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OF  CALIFORNIA 

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STACK  A^l»e& 

pa 

d23E 
1903 

CONTENTS 
VOLUME  I 

CHAPTER  I 
The  Barber's  House i 

CHAPTER  n 
The  Great  Nobleman  and  the  Barber    ....        14. 

CHAPTER  HI 
Blanche.    A  History  of  Sorcerers 35 

CHAPTER  IV 
The  Chevalier  Chaudoreille 54 

CHAPTER  V 
The  Music  Lesson 74 

CHAPTER  VI 
The  Lovers.    The  Gossips 87 

CHAPTER  VII 
Intrigues  Thicken 106 

CHAPTER  VIII 
Conversation  by  the  Fireside ,     .      129 

CHAPTER  IX 
The  Closet.    The  Abduction 140 


2137165 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER   X  ,Ao. 

The  Little  House.    A  New  Game 155 

CHAPTER   XI 
The  Pont-Neuf.    Tabarin 177 

CHAPTER   Xn 
A  Nocturnal  Adventure 189 

CHAPTER   Xni 
The  Tete-a-Tete 198 

CHAPTER   XIV 
Ursule  and  the  Sorcerer  of  Verberie       ....     218 

CHAPTER   XV 

Love  and  Innocence.    A  Shower  of  Rain  and  the 

Talisman 239 

CHAPTER  XVI 
How  Will  It  End 260 


CHAPTER  I 

The  Barber's  House 

Upon  a  certain  evening  in  the  month  of  De- 
cember, of  the  year  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
thirty-two,  a  man  walked  at  a  rapid  pace  down 
the  Rue  Saint-Honore  and  directed  his  steps  to- 
wards the  Rue  Bourdonnais. 

The  individual  appeared  to  be  forty  years  old 
or  thereabouts ;  he  was  tall  as  to  his  figure  and 
sufficiently  good-looking  as  to  his  face;  the  ex- 
pression of  the  latter,  however,  was  rather  austere 
and  at  times  even  melancholy ;  and  in  his  black 
eyes  might  sometimes  be  noted  an  ironical  light, 
which  belied  the  suspicion  of  a  smile. 

This  ungenial  personage,  on  the  occasion  of 
which  we  are  writing,  was  wrapped,  one  might 
almost  say  disguised,  and  he  looked  like  one  who 
would  lend  his  personality  to  disguise;  he  was 
wrapped,  then,  in  a  long  brown  cloak  which  only 
came  down  just  below  his  knees,  and  he  wore, 
drawn  low  down  over  his  eyes,  a  broad-brimmed 
hat,  which,  contrary  to  the  fashion  of  the  day, 
was  ungarnished  by  a  single  feather,  but  which 
effectually  protected  his  face  from  the  rain  which 
was  now  beginning  to  fall  very  heavily. 

vou  vn     I 


2  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  Paris  of  that  time  was  very  different  from 
the  Paris  of  today.  The  condition  of  the  beautiful 
capital  was  then  deplorable ;  many  of  the  streets 
were  unpaved,  many  of  them  were  only  partly 
paved ;  heaps  of  rubbish  and  filth  accumulated 
here  and  there  before  the  houses,  obstructing  the 
course  of  the  water  and  stopping  the  openings  of 
the  drains.  These  waters  being  without  outlet, 
overflowed  on  all  sides,  forming  puddles  and  filthy 
holes  which  exhaled  miasmatic  and  foetid  odors. 
Then  one  might  have  alluded  with  truth  to  — 

Paris,  city  of  noise,  of  mud  and  of  smoke. 

The  streets  were  unlighted.  People  carried  lan- 
terns, it  is  true  ;  but  everybody  did  not  have  these, 
nor  were  lanterns  any  defence  against  the  robbers 
who  existed  in  very  large  numbers,  committing  a 
thousand  excesses,  a  thousand  disorders,  even  in 
broad  daylight,  being  only  too  well  authorized  in 
crime  by  the  example  of  the  pages  and  lackeys 
whose  habit  it  was  to  amuse  themselves  each  night 
by  insulting  the  passers-by,  abducting  the  girls, 
mocking  at  the  watch, beating  the  sergeants,  break- 
ing in  the  doors  of  shops,  and  annoying  the  peace 
of  the  inhabitants  in  a  multiplicity  of  ways,  ex- 
cesses against  which  parliament  had  in  vain  pro- 
mulgated statutes,  which  were  incessantly  renewed, 
and  just  as  incessantly  violated  with  impunity. 

The  stealing  of  purses,  and  even  of  cloaks,  was 
then  a  thing  so  common  that  the  witnesses  of  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  3 

robbery  contented  themselves  with  laughing  at  the 
expense  of  the  victim,  without  ever  running  after 
the  thief.  Murders  were  committed  in  broad  day- 
light on  the  squares  and  on  the  walks,  the  crimi- 
nals insulting  their  victims  as  they  departed. 

There  were  two  kinds  of  thieves,  —  cutpurses 
and  tire-laines.  The  first  nimbly  cut  the  strings  of 
the  purse,  which  it  was  then  the  habit  to  carry  hung 
at  the  belt ;  the  second,  approaching  from  behind, 
rudely  tore  the  passer's  cloak  from  his  shoulders. 

Vainly  from  time  to  time  they  executed  some 
of  these  criminals.  These  examples  seemed  to  re- 
double the  audacity  of  the  vagabonds,  the  insolence 
of  the  pages  and  lackeys.  Justice  waxed  feeble, 
while  custom  allowed  each  one  to  execute  it  for 
himself.  Duels  were  nearly  as  common  as  robber- 
ies ;  it  was  considered  a  great  honor  to  have  the 
power  to  boast  of  having  sent  many  people  into 
the  other  world.  Indubitably  this  was  not  the 
golden  age,  nor  the  good  old  times  so  vaunted  by 
some  poets,  so  regretted  by  those  gloomy  minds 
which  admire  only  hoops  and  farthingales. 

We  do  not  pretend  to  write  history,  but  we  have 
thought  it  necessary  to  recall  to  the  reader  the 
state  of  Paris  at  the  time  in  which  our  barber  lived. 
Undoubtedly  he  has  already  divined,  by  the  title 
alone,  that  the  story  is  not  of  our  time ;  for  now 
we  have  in  Paris  many  artistes  in  hairdressing, 
many  coiffeurs,  and  many  wigmakers,  but  we  have 
no  longer  any  barbers. 


4  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  individual  whose  portrait  we  have  just 
drawn,  having  reached  a  corner  of  the  Rue  des 
Bourdonnais,  stopped  before  a  pretty  house  on 
which  was  written  in  big  letters,  "Touquet,  Barber 
and  Bathkeeper."  At  that  time  the  luxury  of  signs 
was  not  known,  and  the  streets  of  Paris  did  not 
offer  to  the  consideration  of  loiterers  a  character 
from  Greek  or  Roman  history  at  the  front  of  each 
grocer's  or  haberdasher's  shop.  The  portrait  of 
Mary  Stuart  did  not  invite  one  to  go  in  and  buy 
an  ell  of  calico ;  nor  did  Absalom,  hung  by  the 
nape,  indicate  to  one  that  he  was  passing  a  hair- 
dresser's parlors.  We  have  made  great  progress  in 
such  matters. 

The  man  who  had  stopped  before  the  barber's 
house  would  have  had,  no  doubt,  much  trouble  in 
reading  what  was  written  on  the  front  of  the  shop, 
which  was  shut ;  for  the  night  was  dark,  and,  as 
we  have  already  said,  there  were  no  street  lamps  to 
aid  those  who  ventured  to  be  out  in  the  evening 
in  the  capital.  However,  he  seized  the  knocker  of 
the  smaller  door,  which  served  as  an  entrance,  and 
gave  a  double  knock  without  hesitating,  and  as  one 
who  was  not  afraid  of  making  a  mistake ;  in  fact, 
it  was  the  barber  himself.  In  a  few  moments 
heavy  steps  were  heard,  and  a  light  shone  against 
the  lattice-work  above  the  door,  which  opened,  and 
an  old  woman  appeared,  holding  a  candle  in  her 
hand.   She  nodded,  saying,  — 

"  Good  God>  my  dear  master  I  you  have  had 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  § 

horrible  weather.  You  must  be  very  wet,  I  have 
been  praying  to  my  patron  saint  that  nothing 
should  happen  to  you.  Oh,  if  one  only  had  a  se- 
cret for  preserving  one's  self  from  the  rain !  Tm 
very  sure  there  are  some  people  who  can  command 
the  elements.'* 

The  barber  made  no  answer,  but  passed  toward 
a  passage  which  led  to  a  lower  room  in  which  there 
was  a  big  fire.  On  entering  the  apartment  he  be- 
gan by  removing  his  cloak  and  hat,  from  which 
latter  escaped  a  mass  of  black  hair  which  fell  in 
ringlets  on  his  collar ;  he  unfastened  a  large  dag- 
ger from  his  belt,  it  being  then  the  custom  not  to 
venture  out  without  being  armed.  Touquet  hung 
the  dagger  over  the  mantelpiece,  then  threw  him- 
self into  a  wicker  armchair  and  placed  himself  be- 
fore the  fire. 

While  her  master  rested,  the  old  servant  came 
and  went  about  the  room  ;  she  placed  the  table 
beside  the  barber's  armchair,  drew  from  a  buffet  a 
pewter  cup,  some  plates,  a  cover.  She  placed  on 
the  table  tankards  containing  wine  or  brandy,  and 
some  dishes  of  meat  which  she  had  prepared  for 
the  supper. 

"  Has  anyone  been  here  during  my  absence  ?  " 
said  the  barber,  after  a  moment. 

"  Yes,  monsieur ;  first,  some  pages,  to  know  the 
news  and  adventures  of  the  neighborhood,  to  talk 
evil  about  everybody,  and  to  mock  at  the  poor 
women  who  were  weak  enough  to  listen  to  them. 


6  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Oh,  the  young  men  of  today  are  wicked.  How 
they  boasted  of  their  conquests !  Some  bachelors 
came  to  be  shaved,  then  the  little  dandy  who's 
delighted  to  wear  powder,  protesting  that  soon 
everybody  will  wear  it.  Perhaps  they'll  powder 
the  hair  likewise ;  still,  that  may  preserve  it  from 
something  worse.  Ah,  I  forgot ;  and  that  big, 
noisy  and  insolent  lout  who,  because  he  has  a  satin 
doublet  and  a  velvet  mantle,  a  hat  adorned  with 
a  fine  plume,  and  beautiful  silver  points,  believes 
that  he  has  the  right  to  play  the  master  over 
everything." 

**  Ah,  you're  speaking  about  Monbart  ? "         ^ 
**  Yes,  of  that  same.    He  made  a  great  shout- 
ing when  he  found  you  were  not  here.     He  said 
that  since  monsieur  is  rich  he  neglects  his  busi- 
ness." 

"  Why  should  he  meddle  with  it  ?  " 
"  That's  just  what  I  thought,  monsieur.  M.  le 
Chevalier  Chaudoreille  also  came.  He  fought  a 
duel  yesterday  in  the  little  Pre-aux-Clercs  and 
killed  his  adversary,  and  he  had  still  another  duel 
for  this  evening.  Blessed  Holy  Virgin  !  that  men 
should  kill  each  other  like  that,  and  often  for  some 
mere  trifle." 

"  Let  them  fight  as  much  as  they  please  ;  it's 
of  little  importance ;  it's  not  my  business.  Did 
anybody  else  come  ? " 

"  Oh,  the  gentleman  who  is  so  droll  that  he 
makes  me  laugh,  and  whom  I  have  sometimes 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  7 

seen  play  in  the  farces  which  everybody  runs  to 
see  at  his  theatre  in  the  Hotel  de  Bourgogne,-^ 
M.  Henry  Legrand."  1 

"  Why  don't  you  say  Turlupin  ? " 

"Well,  Turlupin,  since  that's  the  name  they 
give  him  at  the  theatre,  and  by  which  he's  also 
known  in  the  city.  He  does  not  make  one  mel- 
ancholy. He  came  with  that  other  who  plays 
with  him,  and  acts,  they  say,  the  old  men,  and 
delivers  the  prologues  which  precede  the  pieces." 

**  That's  Gautier-Garguille  ?  '* 

"Yes,  monsieur,  that's  his  name.  He  wanted 
to  be  shaved,  bathed  and  have  his  hair  dressed ; 
but  as  you  were  not  here,  one  of  them  played  the 
barber  and  shaved  his  comrade ;  then  the  other 
took  the  comb  and  soapball  and  rendered  him 
the  same  service.  I  wished  at  first  to  prevent 
them,  but  they  wouldn't  listen  to  me  ;  if  they 
didn't  make  me  sit  in  the  shop  and  talk  downright 
nonsense  about  scent  and  soap.  Some  people  who 
in  passing  had  recognized  Turlupin  and  his  com- 
panion stopped  before  the  shop ;  presently  the 
crowd  grew  dense,  and  when  they  wanted  to  leave 
they  could  not  find  a  way  through  ;  but  you  know 
Turlupin  is  never  embarrassed,  and,  having  use- 
lessly begged  the  curious  to  let  them  pass,  he  went 
into  the  back  shop  and  brought  a  bucketful  of 
water,  which  he  emptied  entirely  upon  the  crowd. 
Then  you  can  imagine,  monsieur,  the  excitement, 
the  shouts  of  everybody.    Turlupin  and  Gautier- 


8  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Garguille  profited  by  the  confusion  to  make  their 
escape." 

"  And  Blanche,"  said  the  barber,  who  appeared 
to  listen  impatiently  to  old  Marguerite's  story, — 
"  I  hope  that  she  was  not  downstairs  when  these 
merry-andrews  attracted  such  a  crowd  about  my 
house." 

"  No,  monsieur,  no  ;  you  know  very  well  that 
Mademoiselle  Blanche  seldom  comes  down  to  the 
shop,  and  never  when  there  is  anybody  there. 
Today,  as  you  were  away,  she  did  not  leave  her 
room,  as  you  had  advised  her.** 

"  That's  well ;  that's  very  well,**  said  the  bar- 
ber. 

Then  he  drew  near  the  fire,  supporting  one  of 
his  elbows  on  the  table,  and  appeared  to  fall  again 
into  reflection  without  listening  to  the  chatter  of 
his  servant,  which  continued  as  if  her  master  were 
paying  the  greatest  attention  to  her. 

"  Mademoiselle  Blanche  is  a  charming  girl ;  oh, 
yes,  she  is  a  charming  child,  —  pretty,  very  pretty. 
I  defy  all  your  court  ladies  to  have  more  beautiful 
eyes,  or  a  fresher  mouth,  or  whiter  teeth;  and 
such  beautiful  hair,  black  as  jet  and  falling  below 
her  knees.  And  with  all  that,  so  sweet,  so  fi^nk, 
without  the  least  idea  of  coquetry.  Ah,  she  is  can- 
dor, innocence,  itself  Of  course,  she's  not  yet  six- 
teen years  old ;  but  there  are  many  young  girls  at 
that  age  who  already  listen  to  lovers.  What  a  pity 
if  such  a  treasure  as  that  should  fall  into  the  claws 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  9 

of  a  demon !  But  we  shall  save  her  from  that. 
Yes,  yes  ;  I'm  sure  of  it.  I  shall  do  all  that's  nec- 
essary for  that,  for  it's  not  enough  to  watch  over 
a  young  girl ;  the  devil  is  so  malicious,  and  all 
these  bachelors,  these  students,  these  pages,  are  so 
enterprising,  without  counting  the  young  noble- 
men, who  make  no  scruple  of  abducting  young 
girls  and  women,  and  for  all  compensation  give  a 
stroke  of  the  sword,  or  cause  to  be  whipped  by 
their  lackeys  those  who  complain  of  their  treat- 
ment. Good  Saint  Marguerite !  what  a  time  we 
live  in !  One  must  allow  one's  self  to  be  outraged, 
offended,  robbed  even, —  yes,  robbed, —  for  if  you 
should  have  taken  your  man  in  the  act,  if  you 
demand  justice,  they  will  ask  you  if  you  yourself 
were  a  witness  to  it.  If  you  say  no,  they  will  dis- 
miss the  guilty  person,  and  if  you  say  yes,  they 
will  first  find  out  if  you  have  the  means  of  pay- 
ing the  expenses  of  the  law,  in  which  case  you  may 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  thief  flogged  be- 
fore your  door,  and  that  will  cost  you  a  heap. 
But  if  it  is  someone  with  a  title  who  has  offended 
you,  it's  necessary  for  you  to  be  silent  about  it, 
unless  you  wish  to  finish  your  days  at  the  Bastile 
or  at  the  Chatelet." 

Marguerite  was  silent  for  some  minutes,  await- 
ing a  response  from  her  master.  Receiving  none, 
she  presumed  that  he  tacitly  approved  of  all  she 
was  saying,  and  resumed  her  discourse. 

"  Finally,  they  pretend  that  it's  always  been 


lo  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

thus.  They  hang  the  little  ones,  the  bigger  ones 
save  themselves,  and  the  biggest  mock  at  every- 
one. One's  ill  advised  to  go  to  law  now  that  the 
advocates  and  the  attorneys  drag  a  lawsuit  along 
for  five  or  six  years,  receiving  money  from  all 
hands,  so  as  to  maintain  their  wives  and  their 
daughters  in  luxury,  playing  the  Jew  to  ruin  their 
poor  clients.  As  to  the  sergeants,  they  run  all 
over  to  find  criminals;  but  if  they  arrest  some 
thieves,  they  let  them  go  very  quickly,  for  fear 
that  the  latter  will  give  them  some  money.  Poor 
city  !  Don't  we  hear  a  frightful  noise  every  night  ? 
And  still  we're  in  the  best  neighborhood.  And 
that  does  not  prevent  them  from  committing  van- 
dalisms, robberies,  murders.  There  are  shouts,  a 
clash  of  arms ;  what  is  the  use  of  provosts,  sheriffs, 
sergeants,  archers,  if  the  police  do  so  badly?  It's 
not  the  merchants  I  pity ;  they'll  give  themselves 
to  the  devil  for  a  sou ;  they  sell  their  goods  for 
four  times  more  than  they  cost ;  to  draw  custom- 
ers, they  allow  every  passer-by  to  go  into  their 
shops,  leaving  them  at  leisure  to  chat  with  their 
women,  to  take  them  by  the  chin,  to  talk  soft 
nonsense,  to  make  love  to  their  face,  —  all  that  to 
sell  a  collar,  some  rouge,  a  dozen  of  needles.  It's 
a  shame  to  see  everything  that  goes  on  amongst 
us.  If  I  go  to  market  to  get  my  provisions,  I'm 
surrounded  by  thieves  who  amuse  themselves  by 
stealing  from  the  buyers  and  the  sellers  ;  they 
rummage  in  the  creels  and  baskets,  then  they  sing 


I  CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        ii 

-I 
in  my  ears  indecent  and  obscene  songs.  Good 
Saint  Marguerite !  where  are  we  in  all  this  ?  The 
scholars,  more  debauched  than  ever,  insulting,  pil- 
laging, doing  a  thousand  wickednesses ;  the  young 
men  of  family  who  haunt  the  gambling-dens,  the 
drinking-houses,  always  armed  with  daggers  or 
swords.  Ah,  my  dear  master,  Satan  has  taken 
possession  of  our  poor  dty  and  will  make  us  his 
prey." 

Marguerite  stopped  anew  and  listened.  The 
barber  still  kept  the  deepest  silence,  but  he  was 
not  asleep.  Several  times  he  had  passed  his  right 
hand  over  his  forehead  and  pushed  back  his  curls. 
For  those  who  love  to  talk,  it  is  much  the  same 
whether  they  are  listened  to  or  believe  themselves 
to  be  listened  to.  The  old  servant  was  enjoying 
herself;  she  did  not  often  find  so  good  an  oppor- 
tunity to  talk,  and  she  began  again  after  a  short 
pause:-*— 

"Thanks  to  Heaven,  I  am  in  a  good  house, 
and  I  can  say  with  pride  that,  during  the  eight 
years  that  I  have  lived  with  monsieur,  nothing 
has  passed  contrary  to  decency  and  good  manners. 
I  remember  very  well  that  when  they  said  to  me, 
eight  years  ago,  *  Marguerite,  M.  Touquet,  the 
barber-bathkeeper  of  the  Rue  des  Bourdonnais,  is 
looking  for  a  servant  for  his  house,*  I  considered 
it  twice.  I  beg  your  pardon,  monsieur ;  for  bath- 
keepers'  houses  and  lodging-houses  don't  have  a 
very  good  reputation.    But  they  said  to  me,  *  M. 


12  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Touquet  is  in  easy  circumstances  now ;  he  doesn't 
take  lodgers ;  he  is  contented  to  exercise  his  call- 
ing in  the  morning,  and  for  the  rest  he  hardly 
ever  sees  anybody  at  his  house,  where  he  is  care- 
fully educating  a  little  girl  whom  he's  adopted.* 
My  faith !  that  decided  me,  and  I've  not  had  cause 
to  repent  my  decision.  If  there  come  in  the  morn- 
ing to  the  shop  a  crowd  of  men  of  all  profes- 
sions, not  one  of  them  penetrates  to  the  interior 
of  the  house.  Monsieur  does  his  business  honor- 
ably, I  am  proud  to  say ;  and  that  which  I  admire 
above  all  is  the  interest  which  he  bears  for  the 
orphan  he  has  taken  under  his  care,  for  I  believe 
that  monsieur  has  told  me  that  she  is  an  orphan. 
Yes,  monsieur  has  told  me  so.  She  surely  merits 
all  that  anyone  can  do  for  her,  that  dear  Blanche ; 
but  I  believe  I  have  not  told  monsieur  by  what 
means  I  preserve  her  from  the  snares  that  wait 
for  innocence.  Oh,  it's  a  secret,  it's  a  marvellous 
secret,  which  I  shall  confide  to  monsieur.  The 
neighbor  opposite  the  silk  merchant  told  me  how 
to  make  it ;  it  is  a  little  skin  of  vellum,  on  which 
some  words  are  written;  then  one  signs  it,  and 
it  becomes  a  talisman  to  prevent  all  misfortunes. 
Queen  Catherine  de  Medicis  had  a  similar  one 
which  she  wore  always ;  the  talisman  which  I  have 
given  to  Mademoiselle  Blanche,  very  far  from  at- 
tracting evil  spirits,  should  make  them  fly  from  a 
place  and  prevent  the  effect  of  all  sorceries  which 
anyone  could  employ  to  triumph  over  her  virtue. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        13 

Dh,  the  precious  talisman,  monsieur!  Alas!  if 
I  had  had  one  eight  years  ago  !  —  But  you  don't 
sup,  monsieur ;  haven't  you  any  appetite  ?  " 

Touquet  rose  abruptly  and  went  to  look  at  a 
wooden  timepiece  which  stood  at  the  end  of  the 
room. 

**  Nine  o'clock,"  said  the  barber  impatiently ; 
"  nine  o'clock,  and  he  has  not  come." 

"Why,  are  you  waiting  for  someone,  mon- 
sieur ?  "  said  the  old  servant  in  surprise. 

"Yes;  I'm  waiting  for  a  friend.  Put  another 
drinking-cup  on  the  table ;  he  will  sup  with  me." 

"  I  very  much  doubt  whether  he  will  come," 
said  Marguerite,  while  executing  her  master's  or- 
ders ;  "  it's  late  and  the  weather  is  frightful ;  one 
must  be  very  bold  to  risk  himself  in  the  streets  at 
this  hour." 

At  this  moment  somebody  knocked  violently 
at  the  door  of  the  passageway,  and  the  barber, 
smiling  to  himself,  cried,— 

"  It  is  he  1" 


CHAPTER  II 

The  Great  Nobleman  and  the  Barber 

On  hearing  the  knock  old  Marguerite  started 
affrightedly  and  looked  at  her  master,  as  she  fal- 
tered,— 

"  Must  we  open  the  door  at  this  time  of  night, 
monsieur  ? " 

**  Of  course,  haven't  I  told  you  already  that  I 
was  waiting  for  a  friend  ?  "  replied  the  barber,  put- 
ting some  more  wood  on  the  fire, "  go  to  the  door 
at  once." 

The  old  servant  was  very  fearful ;  she  stood  and 
hesitated ;  but  a  single  look  from  her  master  de- 
cided her ;  she  took  a  lamp  and  directed  her  steps 
towards  the  corridor  which  opened  into  the  pas- 
sageway of  the  house.  Marguerite  was  sixty-eight 
years  old  ;  work  and  the  weight  of  years  had  long 
since  bent  her  body  and  deprived  her  limbs  of 
their  natural  agility ;  she  could  only  walk  slowly, 
and  the  high  heels  of  her  large  slippers  made  a 
uniform  flapping  noise  which  the  poor  old  hand- 
maid could  not  prevent  and  of  which  she  was, 
indeed,  unconscious. 

The  good  woman  had  shuffled  as  far  as  the  mid- 
dle of  the  passageway,  when  another  knock,  louder 


I  CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        15 

than  the  first  one,  shook  all  the  windows  of  the 
house. 

"  Ah,  mon  Dieu ! "  said  Marguerite ;  "  he*8  in  a 
great  hurry.  Which  of  my  master's  friends  would 
allow  himself  to  knock  in  that  manner  ?  There 
are  some  panes  broken,  Tm  sure.  Can  it  be  Chau- 
doreille  ?  Oh,  no ;  he  only  gives  a  very  soft  little 
knock.  Turlupin  ?  Of  course  not ;  I  should  hear 
him  sing  in  the  street.  Besides,  he's  not  my  mas- 
ter's friend.  Ah,  I'm  very  curious  to  know  who 
it  can  be." 

Despite  her  curiosity  Marguerite  did  not  ad- 
vance more  quickly.  However,  she  arrived  at  the 
door,  and,  having  mentally  recommended  herself 
to  her  dear  patron  saint,  she  decided  to  open  it. 

A  man  wrapped  in  a  large  cloak  which  he  held 
against  his  face,  his  head  covered  with  a  hat  orna- 
mented on  the  edge  with  white  feathers,  and  drawn 
well  down  over  his  eyes,  so  that  no  one  could  see 
them,  appeared  at  the  end  of  the  passageway,  and 
asked  in  a  loud  voice  if  this  was  Barber  Touquet's 
house. 

"  Yes,  monsieur,"  said  Marguerite,  trying,  but 
in  vain,  to  discover  the  features  of  the  person  be- 
fore her.  "  Yes,  this  is  it ;  and  it's  you,  no  doubt, 
for  whom  my  master's  waiting." 

"In  that  case  conduct  me  to  him,"  said  the 
stranger. 

Marguerite  closed  the  door  and  bade  the  un- 
known follow  her.    While  guiding  him  along  the 


i6  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

passageway  and  the  long  corridor  which  they  had 
to  traverse,  she  turned  often  and  held  her  lamp 
to  the  stranger,  under  the  pretence  of  lighting 
him,  but  in  fact  to  try  to  see  something  by  which 
she  could  recognize  the  person  whom  she  had 
introduced  into  the  house.  Her  efforts  were  in 
vain.  The  stranger  walked  with  his  head  down, 
holding  his  cloak  against  his  face.  Marguerite  was 
reduced  to  examining  his  boots,  which  were  white, 
mth  turned-over  mushroom-shaped  tops,  and  gar- 
nished with  spurs.  This  seemed  to  indicate  a  re- 
fined dress;  but  many  men  then  wore  similar 
ones,  and  this  part  of  his  dress  could  not  help 
Marguerite  in  her  conjectures.  They  reached  the 
lower  room,  and  the  stranger  entered  with  a  light 
step,  while  the  servant  said  to  her  master,  — 

"  Here's  the  person  who  knocked.  I  do  not 
know  if  it  is  the  friend  you  were  waiting  for ;  I 
was  not  able  to  see  him." 

The  barber  did  not  allow  Marguerite  time  to 
finish  her  phrase.  He  ran  toward  the  stranger  and 
made  him  come  to  the  fire,  saying  to  him,  — 

"Thou  hast  arrived  at  last,  then.  I  feared  that 
the  night,  that  the  bad  weather  —  But  place  thy- 
self here ;  we  will  sup  together." 

**  Good,"  said  the  servant  to  herself;  "  in  order 
for  him  to  sup  it  will  be  necessary  for  him  to  re- 
move his  mantle,  and  I  shall  at  last  be  able  to  see 
his  face.  I  don't  know  why,  but  I  have  the  great- 
est curiosity  to  know  this  man.   If  it  is  one  of  my 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        17 

master's  friends,  it  must  be  that  he  has  come  here 
very  rarely.  I  did  not  recognize  his  voice;  his 
height  is  ordinary,  —  rather  tali  than  short;  he 
should  be  young.  Yes,  he's  not  a  scholar ;  how- 
ever, I  bet  he's  a  pretty  fellow ;  by  his  walk  I 
judge  him  to  be  a  military  man.  We  shall  see  if 
I'm  mistaken." 

The  old  maid  did  not  take  her  eyes  from  the 
stranger,  who  had  thrown  himself  on  a  chair,  and 
made  no  sign  that  he  wished  to  relieve  himself  of 
his  cloak  and  hat,  both  of  which  were  drenched 
with  rain. 

"  If  monsieur  desires  it,"  said  Marguerite,  ap- 
proaching the  stranger's  chair,  "  I  will  relieve  him 
of  his  cloak,  which  is  all  wet ;  and  I  can  dry  it 
while  he  is  supping." 

"It  is  unnecessary,"  said  the  barber,  putting 
himself  precipitately  between  the  old  woman  and 
the  stranger,  who  had  not  stirred ;  "  we  have  no 
need  of  your  services.  Leave  us,  and  go  to  rest ; 
I  will  shut  the  street  door  myself  when  my  friend 
leaves." 

Marguerite  seemed  petrified  on  receiving  this 
order.  She  looked  at  her  master,  and  was  about 
to  allow  herself  to  indulge  in  some  observations ; 
but  the  barber  fixed  his  eyes  upon  her,  and  Mas- 
ter Touquet's  eyes  had  at  times  an  expression 
which  compelled  obedience. 

"  Leave  us,"  said  he  again  to  his  servant ;  "  and 
above  all,  do  not  come  down  again." 

Vol.  VII  , 


1 8  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Marguerite  was  silent.  She  took  her  lamp, 
bowed  to  her  master  and  turned  to  leave  the  room, 
throwing  a  last  glance  on  the  man  of  the  mantle, 
who  remained  motionless  before  the  fire  and  whose 
features  she  could  not  see.  She  was  obliged  to  go 
to  bed  without  being  able  to  base  her  conjectures 
on  facts,  without  knowing  if  she  had  rightly  di- 
vined the  age,  the  condition,  the  face  of  the  un- 
known. "What  a  punishment  for  the  old  maid ! 
But  her  master  pointed  with  his  finger  to  the  door 
of  the  room,  and  Marguerite  went  at  once. 

As  soon  as  the  old  servant  had  departed,  and 
when  the  sound  of  her  steps  was  no  longer  heard, 
the  stranger  burst  into  a  shout  of  laughter  and 
threw  his  hat  and  his  cloak  far  from  him.  Then 
one  perceived  a  man  of  thirty-six  years  or  there- 
abouts ;  his  features  were  fine,  noble  and  spiritueL 
His  brown  mustache  was  lightly  outlined  above 
his  mouth,  which  in  smiling  disclosed  very  beau- 
tiful teeth.  His  expressive  eyes,  in  turn  tender, 
proud  and  passionate,  denoted  one  who  was  in  the 
habit  of  expressing  all  his  sentiments ;  but  the  dis- 
gust, the  weariness,  which  were  depicted  also  on 
the  pale  and  worn  features  of  the  stranger  seemed 
to  indicate  that,  having  once  indulged  his  passion, 
it  was  only  with  an  effort  that  he  could  bring  him- 
self to  experience  it  again. 

His  costume  was  rich  and  tasteful ;  the  color  of 
his  doublet  was  a  light  blue ;  silver  and  silk  were 
blended  on  the  velvet  which  formed  the  founda- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        19 

tion;  superb  lace  bordered  the  collar  which  fell 
on  his  shoulders ;  a  large  white  belt  surrounded 
his  figure,  and  a  sword  ornamented  with  precious 
stones  glittered  at  his  side. 

Since  the  departure  of  his  servant  the  barber  had 
changed  his  tone  toward  the  stranger.  Respect, 
humility,  had  replaced  the  familiarity  which  Tou- 
quet  had  affected  in  Marguerite's  presence. 

"Deign  to  excuse  me,  monsieur  le  marquis," 
said  he,  bowing  profoundly  to  his  guest, "  if  I  per- 
mitted myself  to  be  too  familiar,  with  my  thee-ing 
and  thou-ing ;  but  it  was  only  according  to  your 
orders,  the  better  to  deceive  my  servant  and  pre- 
vent her  from  having  any  suspicions  as  to  your 
rank." 

"  That's  all  right,  my  dear  Touquet,"  said  the 
marquis,  displaying  himself  before  the  fire ;  **  I 
assure  you  I  had  the  greatest  trouble  to  maintain 
my  gravity  before  the  poor  woman,  who  did  not 
know  by  what  ruse  she  could  see  my  face,  which 
would  not  have  been  a  very  great  matter,  for  it 
is  hardly  presumable  that  she  would  have  known 
me. 

"  No,  monseigneur,  she  does  not  know  you ;  I 
think  so  at  least,  for  M.  le  Marquis  de  Villebelle 
has  made  so  much  talk  about  himself  with  his  gal- 
lantry, his  conquests,  his  feats  of  arms.  His  name 
has  become  so  famous,  his  adventures  have  made 
so  much  noise,  that  the  lowest  classes  of  society 
know  him,  —  the  bugbear  of  fathers,  of  tutors,  of 


20  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

husbands,  of  lovers  even ;  for  monseigneur  knows 
no  rival.  Your  name  is  spoken  with  terror  by  all 
the  men,  and  makes  all  the  women  sigh,  some  with 
hope  and  the  others  in  remembrance ;  besides,  as 
monsieur  le  marquis  sought  pleasure  wherever  he 
found  beauty,  since  he  sometimes  stooped  to  the 
humble  middle  classes,  and  has  deigned  to  honor 
with  his  regards  some  pretty  shop  girl  or  simple 
villager,  it  would  not  be  impossible  that  my  old 
Marguerite  might  have  served  with  some  house 
where  monsieur  le  marquis  had  left  souvenirs.  It 
was,  therefore,  much  better  that  she  should  not  see 
monseigneur  when  he  came  to  my  house  incog- 
nito." 

**  Yes,  certainly ;  I  wish  to  remain  unknown ;  it 
is  necessary  now  that  I  should  put  more  mystery 
into  my  love  affairs.  Be  seated,  Touquet ;  I  have 
many  things  to  tell  you.** 

"  Monseigneur — ** 

"  Be  seated ;  I  wish  it.  Here  I  lay  aside  my 
rank  and  my  grandeur ;  in  you  I  see  the  first  con- 
fidant of  my  loves,  the  clever  servant  of  my  pas- 
sions, the  audacious  rascal  for  whom  gold  excited 
the  imagination,  and  who  knew  no  obstacle  when 
a  purse  filled  with  pistoles  was  the  recompense  of 
his  services.    You  are  still  the  same,  I  am  certam.** 

"  Ah,  monsieur,  age  makes  us  more  reasonable. 
Seventeen  years  have  passed  since  I  had  the  honor 
of  serving  you  for  the  first  time ;  but  since  that  time 
my  head  is  steadier ;  I  have  learned  to  reflect.** 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        21 

**  Do  you  wish  to  become  an  honest  man  ?  But 
it  is  not  more  than  ten  years  ago  that  you  were 
serving  me ;  you  were  still  a  knave  then.  Does 
your  conversion  date  from  that  epoch  ?  " 

"  Monsieur  le  marquis  is  incessantly  joking.  He 
calls  those  services  knaveries  which  I  rendered  to 
him  because  I  was  so  strongly  attached  to  him." 

"  Call  it  what  you  will,  it  matters  little  to  me. 
It*s  not  necessary  with  me.  Master  Touquet,  to 
play  the  hypocrite,  and  man  of  scruples.  In  fact, 
are  you  disposed  to  be  useful  to  me?  Is  your 
genius  extinguished,  and  will  gold  no  longer  re- 
suscitate it  ?  '* 

"  To  serve  you,  monsieur  le  marquis,  I  shall  be 
always  the  same ;  you  need  not  doubt  my  zeal  or 
my  devotion." 

"  All  in  good  time.  That  is  all  that  I  ask  of 
you ;  be  a  saint  with  other  people  if  that  pleases 
you,  but  see  that  I  always  find  you  the  same  to  me 
as  you  were  formerly." 

Touquet  did  not  answer,  but  he  turned  his  head 
and  his  features  seemed  to  grow  sad.  However, 
he  soon  recovered  himself  and  turned  smilingly 
toward  his  guest,  who  was  tapping  the  wall  of  the 
chimney  with  his  feet,  and  who  remained  for  some 
time  silent,  as  if  he  had  forgotten  that  he  was  still 
at  the  barber's.  The  latter  waited  with  impatience 
for  the  marquis  to  resume  his  discourse.  At  the 
end  of  five  minutes  the  noble  seigneur  broke  the 
silence. 


22  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  My  dear  Touquet,  when  I  recall  the  events  of 
my  life  to  my  memory,  I  am  truly  astonished  that 
I  am  still  in  the  world.  Why,  during  all  this  time, 
has  not  the  dagger  of  a  jealous  husband  or  father 
fallen  upon  my  head  ?  How  many  men  have  sworn 
to  ruin  me!  And  the  women,  — if  all  those  I  have 
betrayed  had  executed  their  projects  of  vengeance! 
Thanks  to  Heaven,  we  are  not  in  Italy  or  in  Spain; 
and,  while  we  have  among  the  French  some  vin- 
dictive spirits,  who  hold  rancor  toward  one  who 
has  betrayed  them,  the  total  is  small.  Inconstancy 
is  not  an  unforgivable  crime  among  these  ladies, 
who  deign  sometimes  to  put  themselves  in  our 
places  and  say  they  would  not  have  done  differ- 
ently to  us." 

"  Certainly,  monseigneur,  your  life,  at  least  since 
I  have  had  the  honor  to  be  attached  to  you,  has 
been  a  continued  series  of  very  spicy  adventures, 
and  some  very  dangerous  ones.  Abductions,  se- 
ductions, duels,  attacks  with  force,  made  openly, 
—  nothing  stopped  you  when  you  had  resolved 
upon  anything.  Could  you  find  any  obstacles? 
Rich,  noble,  generous,  fortune  and  nature  have 
done  everything  for  you,  monsieur  le  marquis. 
You  have  profited  by  it ;  you  have  enjoyed  life ; 
many  men  have  envied  you  your  good  fortune.** 

"  My  good  fortune  1  Do  you  truly  imagine  that 
I  have  been  happy  ?  ** 

"  And  what  should  have  prevented  your  being 
so,  monseigneur  ?  ** 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        23 

"  Nothing ;  and  that  is  perhaps  why  weariness 
and  disgust  have  often  attacked  me  in  the  midst  of 
the  pleasures,  the  voluptuousness,  I  have  tasted. 
Sometimes,  without  doubt,  I  have  felt  happiness, 
but  it  has  been  so  short  and  has  fled  so  rapidly. 
The  appearance  of  beauty  has  inflamed  my  senses 
and  made  my  heart  palpitate.  The  charming  sex, 
which  I  idolize,  has  always  exercised  an  absolute 
empire  over  me.  At  the  sight  of  a  pretty  woman 
I  love,  or  at  least  believe  I  love ;  but  no  sooner 
are  my  desires  satisfied  than  my  love  expires,  and 
I  am  obliged  to  seek  a  new  object  to  reanimate 
my  benumbed  senses." 

**  Happily,  this  capital  contains  any  quantity  of 
pretty  faces ;  the  city  and  the  court  aflford  you 
sufficient  to  vary  your  pleasures.'* 

"  Sentiment  and  memory  are  alike  exhausted. 
I  fear  that,  having  once  had  force  to  take  fire,  my 
poor  heart  has  become  like  those  imperfect  gun 
flints  on  which  the  hammer  strikes  without  effect. 
I  am  tired  of  the  intrigues  of  the  court,  which  are 
even  easier  than  the  others.  Where  do  you  think 
I  could  find  something  more  spicy  ?  There  every- 
thing is  done  with  etiquette,  and  everyone  is  so 
polished.  We  know  life  too  well  to  get  angry  at 
the  least  infidelity  ;  one  leaves  or  one  takes  with 
the  most  profound  obeisances,  and  this  wearies  one 
to  death  ;  courtiers  have  nothing  new  to  offer  one. 
What  should  I  accomplish  in  Marion  de  Lorme's 
circle  ?    I  should  see  always  the  same  faces.  When 


24  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

the  Cardinal  had  made  her  fashionable,  I  didn't 
find  the  woman  so  witty  that  one  would  wish  to 
have  anything  to  do  with  her.  How  different 
with  this  young  and  beautiful  Ninon  !  People  will 
long  speak  of  her;  her  name  will  go  down  the 
centuries.  But  she  has  too  much  wit  and  too  little 
love,  for  me.  My  heart,  cold  before  its  time,  needs 
to  come  in  contact  with  a  passionate  heart  in  order 
to  rewarm  itself.  In  the  city  one  does  not  fare 
much  better  with  the  women.  The  little  bour- 
geoises have  become  coquettes.  Still,  if  they  only 
knew  how  to  be  cruel ;  but  a  name,  a  figure,  a  rich 
cloak,  seems  to  turn  their  heads.  The  merchants 
know  how  to  rob  us,  and  the  grisettes  entice  us ; 
and  in  the  midst  of  all  that  the  husbands  are  so 
kind,  so  complacent ;  they  fear  us  as  they  would 
fire ;  our  titles  render  them  mute ;  of  honor  they 
are  hopeless.  If  this  continues,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  make  love  a  la  turque ;  we  should  only 
have  then  to  throw  the  handkerchief." 

"Then,  monsieur  le  marquis,  one  always  has 
the  resource  of  wisdom  ;  and,  since  I  have  not  had 
the  honor  of  serving  you  for  ten  years,  without 
doubt  you  have  acquired  that." 

"  My  faith,  yes  ;  for  it's  not  necessary  to  speak 
of  common  adventures,  which  are  not  worth  the 
trouble  of  reciting.  I  have  been  in  the  army ;  I 
have  been  in  battle ;  that  afforded  me  much  pleas- 
ure, and  I  would  willingly  have  stayed  there  much 
longer ;  but  peace  is  made,  I  have  returned,  I  have 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        25 

visited  my  lands,  and  have  laughed  with  some  lit- 
tle peasants  who  were  sufficiently  pleasing,  but  so 
awkward,  so  simple.  By  the  way,  I  forgot  to  tell 
you ;  I  married." 

"  Married  !  What,  monseigneur !  you  ? " 
"  Undoubtedly ;  my  marriage  was  very  neces- 
sary ;  my  rank,  my  place  at  the  court  —  and  then 
I  was  overloaded  with  debt.  That  didn't  make 
me  uneasy ;  but  they  had  arranged  this  marriage  ; 
the  Cardinal,  the  Queen  herself,  desired  it.  I  mar- 
ried the  daughter  of  the  Count  of  Laroche.  My 
wife  was  very  good,  of  very  sweet  character ;  she 
didn't  trouble  herself  about  my  intrigues  ;  she  had 
what  was  necessary  to  me.  I  loved  her  —  very 
honestly,  as  one  can  love  his  wife ;  but  she  died 
two  years  ago  and  left  me  no  heir,  which  is  in- 
tensely disagreeable.  I  had  an  idea  that  I  should 
love  children  very  much.'* 

"  Then  you  are  a  widower,  monsieur  ?  ** 
"  Yes  ;  and  I  find  myself  the  possessor  of  a  con- 
siderable fortune,  very  well  considered  at  court,  in 
favor  with  the  Cardinal,  and  even  able  to  obtain, 
should  I  desire  it,  the  most  important  employ- 
ment." 

"  I  conceive,  then,  that  monsieur  le  marquis 
wishes  more  secrecy  in  his  love  affairs." 

"  Ah,  my  poor  Touquet,  I  don't  believe  that 
ambition  will  ever  have  much  charm  for  me,  but 
nobody  knows ;  and  there  are  some  convenances 
at  the  court  which  one  must  not  break ;  besides. 


a6  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

secrecy  lends  a  charm  to  the  most  simple  act.  But 
why  have  you  not  enrolled  yourself  under  Hy- 
men's flag  ?  I  find  that  you  are  more  thoughtful, 
less  cheerful,  less  lively,  than  formerly." 

"  No,  monsieur  le  marquis ;  I  am  still  a  bach- 
elor." 

"  Oh,  well,  I  believe  you  are  better  so.  In  your 
position  a  wife  would  restrain  you,  —  you  who  are 
so  clever,  so  discreet,  in  conducting  an  intrigue. 
Women  are  so  curious ;  she  would  want  to  know 
everything,  which  would  be  troublesome  for  you. 
Besides,  you  have  never  been  very  gallant ;  you 
care  for  nothing  but  gold.  It  is  your  god,  your 
idol ;  a  well-filled  purse  makes  you  inventive,  ca- 
pable of  working  marvels.  It's  true  that  you  play 
with  it  a  quarter  of  an  hour  afterwards  and  at  dice 
or  cards  soon  increase  the  fruit  of  the  eflforts  of 
your  genius." 

**  Ah,  monseigneur ! " 

"  Yes,  you  are  as  big  a  gambler  as  you  are  a 
knave ;  I  remember  it  very  well.  Perhaps  in  ten 
years  you  have  become  wiser;  I  almost  believe 
so,  for  you  appear  in  very  easy  circumstances,  and 
this  house  does  not  indicate  poverty  ;  this  servant, 
this  supper  served  for  you  —  The  deuce !  I  must 
taste  your  wine." 

**  Ah,  monseigneur,  it  is  not  worth  offering  to 
you." 

"  I  always  like  best  that  which  is  not  offered  to 
me. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        27 

While  he  was  saying  these  words  the  marquis 
filled  one  of  the  cups  with  wine  and  swallowed  it 
at  a  draught. 

"  Really,  it's  not  so  very  bad." 

"Ah,  monseigneur,  if  it  were  on  your  table — ** 

"Then  I  should  find  it  detestable;  but  what 
will  you  have  ?  Variety  is  the  spice  of  life.  And 
you  have  become  rich,  then  ?  ** 

**  No,  not  rich,  but  well  enough  off  to  buy  this 
house." 

"  What !  the  house  belongs  to  you  ? " 

"  Yes,  monsieur  le  marquis." 

"  Deuce  take  it,  Master  Touquet,  it  must  be 
that  you  have  made  some  big  hauls  in  order  to 
become  a  proprietor." 

The  barber's  face  contracted ;  his  black  eye- 
brows frowned  and  almost  met ;  he  slowly  rolled 
his  eyes  around  him,  and  murmured  with  an  ef- 
fort, — 

"  Monsieur  le  marquis,  I  swear  to  you  —  " 

"  O  mon  Dieu !  I  do  not  ask  you  to  swear, 
my  poor  Touquet,"  said  the  marquis,  laughing. 
**  You  are  as  uneasy  as  if  you  had  become  a  lieu- 
tenant in  crime.  Do  you  think  that  I  came  here 
to  inquire  as  to  the  manner  in  which  you  made 
your  fortune  ?  But  by  all  the  devils,  I  do  not  be- 
lieve that  you  earned  this  house  in  your  barber 
shop." 

"  Monseigneur,  I  assure  you  that  my  econo- 
mies —  " 


28  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Yes,  that's  all  very  well ;  let's  leave  all  that 
and  speak  of  the  subject  which  brought  me  here, 
for,  of  course,  I  came  to  you  for  something,  and 
rU  be  damned  if  I  remember  what  it  was." 

The  barber  appeared  to  breathe  more  freely ; 
his  face  assumed  its  habitual  expression,  and  he 
raised  his  eyes  to  the  marquis,  who  seemed  to 
throw  aside  his  insolence  to  explain  the  motive  of 
his  nocturnal  visit. 

"  When  I  saw  you  this  morning  on  the  Pont- 
Neuf,  I  was  following  a  young  girl,  a  pretty  little 
puss ;  without  being  a  perfect  beauty,  she  was 
graceful  and  interesting  in  appearance,  with  spar- 
kling and  very  intelligent  eyes.  I  do  not  believe 
that  we  should  have  much  trouble  in  making  a 
conquest  of  her.  However,  she  walked  faster,  and 
would  not  answer  any  of  my  compliments.  I  care- 
fully wrapped  myself  in  my  cloak,  not  wishing 
to  be  recognized  by  our  amiable  profligates,  who 
would  have  made  sport  of  me  for  running  after 
a  grisette.  The  little  girl  stopped  to  listen  for  a 
moment  to  Tabarin's  songs,  and  it  was  while  she 
was  before  the  quack  that  I  saw  you  and  recog- 
nized you  immediately ;  you  have  one  of  those 
faces  that  nobody  forgets." 

"  I  had  also  recognized  you,  monseigneur,  in 
spite  of  the  cloak  in  which  you  were  enveloped ; 
for  ten  years  have  not  changed  your  features,  mon- 
sieur le  marquis,  and  one  could  not  easily  mistake 
that  noble  figure  which  captivates  all  the  belles." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        29 

"  You  flatter  me,  rascal ;  which  means  that  I 
have  aged.  But  let's  go  on.  As  soon  as  you  had 
given  me  your  address,  I  returned  to  the  side  of 
the  little  one." 

"  If  monsieur  le  marquis  had  explained  to  me 
this  morning  what  he  was  after,  I  would  have 
spared  him  the  trouble  of  following  this  young 
girl." 

"  No,  I  had  a  good  opportunity  of  examining 
her  further;  besides,  I  had  nothing  else  to  do.  She 
took  the  road  to  the  city,  which  she  entered  by 
the  Rue  de  la  Calandre,  I  still  talking  to  her ;  she 
only  smiled,  without  answering  me,  but  her  look 
was  not  severe.  At  last  she  stopped  before  a  per- 
fumer's shop ;  I  wished  to  go  in  with  her,  but  she 
opposed  me,  saying  in  a  very  singular  tone,  *  Mon- 
sieur le  Marquis  de  Villebelle  is  too  well  known 
for  him  to  go  into  this  shop  with  me;  I  should 
lose  my  reputation,  and  I  beg  monsieur  le  mar- 
quis not  to  compromise  me.'  Well  now,  my  dear, 
Touquet,  can  you  imagine  this  grisette  who  pre- 
tends that  I  should  cause  her  to  lose  her  reputa- 
tion? As  for  me,  I  confess  that  I  was  so  much 
surprised  by  finding  myself  known  to  the  young 
girl  and  hearing  her  speak  thus,  that  I  remained 
like  a  fool  in  the  middle  of  the  street ;  meanwhile 
my  beautiful  conquest  had  entered,  and  disap- 
peared by  the  back  of  the  shop." 

"  As  I  told  you,  monseigneur,  you  are  known 
in  all  classes  of  society ;   even  a  young  girl  of 


30  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

twelve  years  is  as  much  afraid  of  you  as  she  would 
be  of  Count  Ory  of  gallant  memory." 

**  Better  and  better !  Women  are  always  curi- 
ous to  know  these  men  who  have  been  pictured  to 
them  as  so  dangerous!  Poor  parents !  When  they 
tell  them  to  fly  from  me,  it  makes  them  run  after 
me.  Here,  Touquet ;  here's  some  gold.  You  will 
see  this  young  girl,  then ;  since  she  knows  who  I 
am,  you  cannot  easily  promise  her  that  I  will  be 
faithful.  No  matter;  promise  her  anyhow.  In 
three  days  let  me  find  her  at  my  little  house  in 
the  Faubourg  Saint- Antoine ;  you  know  it." 

"  Yes,  monseigneur ;  I  remember  it ;  it  is  the 
one  that  you  formerly  possessed.'* 

"  Yes ;  but  I  have  made  it  a  delightful  retreat. 
You  shall  see  it ;  pictures,  mirrors,  marble,  ala- 
baster, are  there  mingled  with  silk,  velvet  and  the 
most  precious  stuffs.  I  have  spent  more  than  fifty 
thousand  francs  upon  it.  Oh,  it  is  divine !  I  have 
had  some  charming  suppers  there  with  Montglas, 
Chavagnac,  Villempre,  Monteille,  and  some  other 
profligates  of  the  court." 

"  Was  it  not  there,  monsieur  le  marquis,  that  I 
led  that  young  girl  whose  abduction  made  such 
an  uproar  ?  That  was,  I  believe,  our  first  affair  of 
this  kind ;  you  were  then  a  little  more  than  nine- 
teen years  of  age  ;  and  the  little  girl  —  " 

"  Why  the  devil  do  you  recall  that  ? "  said  the 
marquis,  making  an  angry  movement,  and  press- 
ing in  his  hand  the  purse  he  was  about  to  take 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        31 

from  his  belt,  and  on  which  the  barber  had  already 
laid  avaricious  eyes. 

**  Pardon,  monsieur  le  marquis,"  said  Touquet ; 
"but  I  did  not  think  I  should  displease  you  in 
recalling  the  adventure  which  commenced  your 
reputation.  The  young  person  was  beautiful  and 
good,  and  the  father,  one  of  King  Henry's  old. 
archers,  did  not  understand  joking.  His  arquebus 
was  aimed  at  you,  the  ball  went  through  your  hat ; 
but  your  sword  stopped  the  old  man,  and  he  fell 
at  your  feet,  while  I  bore  off  in  my  arms  his  in- 
sensible daughter." 

"  Be  silent,  wretch,"  cried  the  marquis,  sud- 
denly rising,  and  looking  angrily  at  the  barber, 
who  received  his  glances  with  perfect  indifference. 

The  conversation  was  again  interrupted ;  the 
marquis  walked  rapidly  up  and  down  the  room, 
and  appeared  buried  in  his  reflections ;  soon,  how- 
ever, broken  words  escaped  him,  but  they  were 
not  addressed  to  Touquet.  The  marquis  seemed 
violently  agitated  as  he  said  in  a  low  voice,  — 

"  Poor  Estrelle !  what  has  become  of  you  ?  She 
loved  me  —  she  believed  me  to  be  a  simple  stu- 
dent. I  loved  her  also  ;  yes,  never  since  that  time 
have  I  experienced  a  feeling  which  I  can  compare 
with  the  love  with  which  she  inspired  me.  I  was 
young  —  ah.  Heaven  is  my  witness  that  I  did  not 
wish  to  fight  with  her  father.  Thanks  to  Heaven, 
his  wound  was  very  trifling  and  was  soon  cured ; 
but  Estrelle,  when  she  learned  my  name  and  that 


$2  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

event,  cursed  me.  Yes,  I  believe  I  can  hear  her 
still.  Then  she  escaped  from  that  house  where  I 
had  hidden  her.  I  love  her  still.  Since  that  time 
I  have  never  heard  of  her ;  and  you,  Touquet,  — 
have  you  never  met  her  since  ? " 

"  Never,  monseigneur ;  I  have  neither  seen  her 
nor  heard  her  speak." 

"  Poor  Estrelle  !  "  said  the  marquis  after  a  mo- 
ment ;  and  the  barber  added  in  a  low  tone,  — 

*'  She  would  now  be  thirty-four  years  of  age,  or 
very  near  that." 

This  remark  appeared  to  lessen  somewhat  the 
marquis*  regret. 

**  In  fact,"  said  he,  again  approaching  the  fire, 
"  she  would  be  nearly  that  age  if  she  were  living, 
and  would  not  appear  the  same  to  me  as  the  one 
I  formeriy  knew.  How  time  passes  1  Come,  let's 
forget  all  that ;  after  all,  it  is  much  the  same  as  any 
other  adventure,  —  a  chapter  in  the  history  of  my 
life." 

"  And  did  the  marquis  say  that  the  young  girl 
lived  in  the  Rue  de  la  Calandre  in  the  city  ?  ** 

"  The  young  girl  ?   What  young  girl  ? " 

"  The  one  monseigneur  followed  this  morning.** 

**  Yes,  to  be  sure ;  I  had  forgotten.  You  will 
easily  recognize  her :  her  figure  unconstrained,  her 
walk  brisk ;  twenty  years  or  thereabouts,  I  pre- 
sume ;  nut-brown  hair,  black  eyes,  beautiful  teeth, 
her  skin  a  little  brown.  I  do  not  think  she's 
French.    Something  lively  in  her  countenance; 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        22 

nothing  that  indicates  timidity  or  simplicity.  This 
is  all  the  information  which  I  can  give  you." 

"It  is  sufficient,  monseigneur ;  in  two  days  I 
hope  that  the  young  person  will  be  at  your  little 
house." 

"  That's  very  good.  —  Wait ;  this  is  for  your 
expenses,  and  I  promise  you  as  much  more  if  you 
are  successful." 

While  saying  these  words  the  marquis  threw  on 
the  table  the  purse  filled  with  gold,  which  he  still 
held  in  his  hand,  and  a  smile  escaped  the  lips  of 
the  barber.  His  guest  resumed  his  cloak  and  re- 
placed his  hat  on  his  "head. 

"  It  is  late,"  said  the  marquis,  wrapping  himself 
in  his  mantle,  "and  I  must  go  home.  The  day 
after  tomorrow,  toward  ten  o'clock,  I  will  return 
to  learn  the  result  of  your  proceedings." 

"  Shall  I  find  anybody  at  your  little  house  ? " 

**  Yes,  Marcel,  one  of  my  people,  a  devoted  ser- 
vant who  lives  there  constantly.   I  will  warn  him." 

"  That  is  enough,  monseigneur,  and  I  hope  that 
you  will  be  pleased  with  me  on  this  occasion." 

"  I  leave  it  all  to  your  zeal ;  in  fact,  the  little  one 
is  very  pleasing,  and  ought  to  amuse  me  for  some 
time.  Come,  my  dear  Touquet,  let  us  follow  our 
destiny.  Gallantry,  voluptuousness,  pleasure, — 
that  is  my  life;  that  is  the  road  which  I  follow 
where  my  passions  lead  me.  I  should  not  know 
how  to  follow  any  other  walk  now ;  like  a  blind 
man  who  trusts  in  Providence,  I  do  not  know  if 

Vol.  VII 


34  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

this  road  will  lead  me  to  happiness ;  but  I  cannot 
turn  aside  from  it." 

The  marquis  turned  his  steps  toward  the  door, 
and  Touquet  proposed  to  his  distinguished  guest 
that  he  should  guide  him  to  his  dwelling. 

"Thank  you,"  said  the  marquis,  "it  is  unne- 
cessary ;  I  have  my  sword,  and  I  fear  nothing." 

While  uttering  these  words  the  marquis  had 
plunged  into  the  street  and  disappeared  from  the 
barber's  sight.  The  latter  closed  the  door  and  re- 
turned to  the  little  room.  Arrived  there,  he  has- 
tened to  take  the  purse  which  lay  on  the  table ;  he 
counted  the  pieces  which  it  contained,  nor  could 
he  raise  his  eyes  from  the  sight  of  the  gold.  But 
soon  a  dull,  melancholy  sound  was  heard ;  it  was 
Saint-Eustache's  clock  striking  two.  The  barber 
turned  pale ;  his  hair  seemed  to  stand  up  on  his 
head ;  he  threw  about  him  gloomy  glances,  as  if  he 
feared  to  perceive  some  frightful  object ;  then  he 
placed  the  purse  in  his  bosom,  took  a  lamp  and 
went  toward  the  door  at  the  end  of  the  room,  mur- 
muring in  a  sad  voice, — 

"  Two  o'clock !  Let's  go  to  bed.  Ah,  if  I  could 
only  sleep  1  ** 


CHAPTER  III 
Blanche.     A  History  of  Sorcerers 

The  welcome  day  had  succeeded  to  the  long 
and  rainy  night ;  the  merchants  had  opened  their 
shops,  the  watchmen  were  taking  their  much- 
needed  rest  after  their  fatiguing  nocturnal  duties, 
while  the  more  hardy  robbers  of  the  darkness  had 
given  place  to  the  sneaking  pickpockets  and 
thieves  who  exercised  their  calling  in  broad  day- 
light in  the  most  populous  quarters.  The  servant 
maids  were  up  and  about,  briskly  performing 
their  morning  tasks ;  husbands  left  the  nuptial 
couch,  for  then  it  was  usual  for  one  to  sleep  with 
his  wife,  at  least  among  middle-class  people,  to 
betake  themselves  to  their  daily  avocations ;  wives 
and  mothers  were  attending  to  the  needs  of  their 
households  and  their  children ;  lovers  who  had 
dreamt  of  their  sweethearts  went  to  endeavor  to 
realize  some  of  their  dreams ;  and  the  young  girls 
who  always  thought  of  their  sweethearts  whether 
they  were  sleeping  or  waking,  went,  thinking  of 
them  still,  to  their  daily  work.  In  that  time,  as 
in  this,  love  was  the  dream  of  youth,  the  distrac- 
tion of  the  middle-aged,  and  the  memory  of  the 
old. 

3S 


36  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  barber  was  always  the  first  to  rise  in  the 
house.  He  had  no  servants,  although  his  means 
would  well  have  allowed  it;  but  when  anyone 
asked  him  why  he  did  not  take  a  boy  to  help  him 
and  to  watch  in  the  shop,  Touquet  answered,  — 

"  I  do  not  need  anyone ;  I  can  conduct  my  busi- 
ness alone,  and  I'm  not  fond  of  feeding  idlers  who 
are  good  for  nothing  but  to  spy  on  their  master's 
actions  and  go  and  talk  about  them  in  the  neigh- 
borhood." 

The  barber  knew  that  Marguerite,  though  a 
little  curious  and  somewhat  of  a  gossip,  was  inca- 
pable of  disobeying  him  in  anything;  she  went 
out  to  buy  the  necessary  provisions  for  the  house, 
then  she  went  upstairs  again  to  the  young  girl  of 
whom  we  have  heard  her  speak,  and  with  whom 
we  shall  soon  have  a  better  acquaintance.  Mar- 
guerite went  down  only  when  her  master  was  ab- 
sent, which  was  rarely.  Finally,  the  barber  could 
not  dispense  with  a  maid  since  he  had  taken  the 
little  Blanche  to  grow  up  under  his  roof. 

Touquet  himself  opened  his  shop ;  he  looked 
up  and  down  the  street,  but  it  was  yet  too  early 
for  customers  to  come.  The  barber  was  dreamy, 
preoccupied ;  he  was  thinking  of  the  commission 
which  had  been  given  him  by  the  marquis ;  then 
he  returned  indoors,  saying, — 

" Chaudoreille  is  late  this  morning;  however, 
it*s  his  day  to  be  shaved." 

Marguerite  appeared  at   the  entrance  to  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        37 

room ;  and,  after  looking  about  her  on  all  sides, 
perhaps  to  assure  herself  that  the  stranger  of  the 
night  before  was  not  still  there,  she  greeted  her 
master  respectfully,  and  said  to  him,  — 

"  Monsieur,  Mademoiselle  Blanche  is  up  and 
wishes  to  know  if  she  may  come  and  say  good- 
morning  to  you." 

The  barber  still  threw  a  glance  into  the  street ; 
then  he  passed  into  his  back  shop,  saying  to  his 
servant,  — 

"  Blanche  may  come." 

Marguerite  had  hardly  made  a  sign  to  someone 
in  the  passage  when  a  young  girl,  light  as  a  deer 
and  fresh  as  a  rose,  sprang  into  the  little  room 
where  Touquet  was  waiting,  and  ran  toward  him 
with  the  most  lovely  smile,  saying  to  him,  — 

"  Good-morning,  my  good  friend  !  " 

Then  she  offered  Touquet  her  candid  forehead, 
and  the  barber  approached  her  and  brushed  it 
lightly  with  his  lips.  One  would  have  said  that  a 
painful  feeling  restrained  him,  and  that  he  feared 
to  wither  that  tender  flower. 

Marguerite's  portrait  had  not  flattered  Blanche. 
The  young  girl  was  as  pretty  as  she  appeared  in- 
nocent and  ingenuous.  Her  dark  hair,  smoothed 
in  bands  on  her  forehead,  fell  in  ringlets  on  her 
right  shoulder.  Powder,  which  the  court  ladies 
had  then  begun  to  use,  had  not  spoiled  Blanche's 
beautiful  tresses.  Her  skin  accorded  perfectly 
with  her  name.    Her  mouth  was  fresh  and  tender; 


38  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

and  her  blue  eyes,  shaded  by  long  lashes,  had  an 
innocent  and  sweet  expression,  as  rare  then  as  now. 

What  a  pity  that  her  pretty  body  should  be 
imprisoned  in  a  long  corset,  the  bones  of  which 
seemed  forcibly  to  compress  its  charms !  But  it 
was  then  the  fashion.  Today  we  have  better  taste ; 
we  wish  that  the  figure  should  be  in  its  place ;  we 
wish,  above  all,  to  be  able  to  embrace  it  without 
being  hindered  by  farthingales,  basquines,  paniers 
or  hoops.  Happily,  the  ladies  are  of  our  opinion, 
and  everybody  gains  thereby. 

Despite  her  long  figure,  straight  corset,  frilled 
sleeves,  and  her  high-heeled  shoes,  Blanche  was 
no  less  pretty.  Beauty  adorns  everything  that  it 
wears,  and  innocence  lends  a  more  bewitching  and 
genuine  charm  to  beauty.  Blanche  had,  then, 
every  quality  which  could  please.  However,  the 
barber  did  not  appear  to  remark  the  attractions  of 
the  young  girl ;  one  would  have  said  that  he  feared 
to  look  at  her,  as  he  had  feared  to  touch  his  lips 
to  her  forehead. 

"  Did  you  have  a  good  night  ? "  asked  Blanche 
of  him. 

"  Very  good,  I  thank  you." 

"  Marguerite  was  afraid  that  you  went  to  bed 
very  late  because  you  had  one  of  your  friends  to 
supper  with  you." 

"  I  don't  know  why  Marguerite  should  make 
such  a  remark,  nor  what  necessity  there  was  that 
she  should  tell  you  I  had  anyone  here  last  night." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        39 

While  uttering  these  words  Touquet  looked 
severely  at  Marguerite,  who  dusted  and  wiped  the 
furniture  without  daring  to  look  at  her  master. 

"But,  my  dear,"  answered  Blanche,  "is  there 
anything  bad  in  one's  supping  with  one  of  his 
friends  ? " 

"  Undoubtedly  not." 

"What  harm,  then,  has  Marguerite  done  in 
telling  me  that  ? " 

"  A  servant  should  not  incessantly  tell  tales 
about  everything  her  master  does.  It  should  be 
very  indifferent  to  you,  Blanche,  whether  anyone 
comes  to  see  me  in  the  evening  or  not." 

"  Oh,  mercy,  yes,  since  you  won't  let  me  come 
down,  though  that  would  amuse  me  much  better 
than  staying  in  my  room." 

"  A  young  girl  should  not  talk  to  everybody, 
and  many  people  come  here  of  whom  I  know  very 
little." 

"  Yes,  in  the  morning ;  but  In  the  evening  you 
only  receive  your  friends." 

"  I  receive  very  few  visitors  in  the  evening  ex- 
cept Chaudoreille,  whom  you  know." 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  and  he  makes  me  laugh  every  time 
I  see  him,  for  he  will  give  me  lessons  in  music, 
and  I  believe  at  the  present  time  I  know  much 
more  about  it  than  he  does.  You  will  never  let 
me  leave  my  room." 

"  Blanche,  isn't  it  apparent  to  you  that  that  is 
not  convenient  ? " 


40  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  But  when  you  are  alone  I  should  like  much 
better  to  keep  yoa  company  and  chat  to  you,  than 
to  listen  to  Marguerite's  stories,  which  often  make 
me  very  timorous  and  prevent  me  from  going  to 
sleep." 

"  You  know  that  I'm  not  very  chatty ;  after  a 
day's  work  I'm  tired  and  I  like  to  rest." 

"  And  Marguerite  said  that  you  didn't  go  to 
bed  until  very  late,  that  you  kept  the  light  burn- 
ing a  long  time,  and  that  she  doesn't  know  if  you 
sleep  one  hour  every  night." 

The  old  servant  coughed,  but  unsuccessfully,  to 
make  Blanche  stop  talking;  but  the  latter,  not 
thinking  that  she  had  done  anything  wrong  in  re- 
peating all  that,  paid  no  attention  to  her  and  con- 
tinued to  speak.  Marguerite,  in  order  to  avoid 
her  master's  look,  wiped  and  dusted  with  new 
ardor ;  but  this  time  the  voice  of  the  barber  made 
itself  heard,  and  it  was  she  whom  he  addressed. 

**  Marguerite,  I  said  to  you  when  you  came 
into  my  house  that  I  detested  curious,  indiscreet 
people,  —  servants  who  spy  on  their  master.  Do 
you  remember  it  ? " 

"  Yes,  yes,  monsieur,"  said  the  old  servant,  con- 
tinuing to  rub  the  top  of  the  table. 

"  How  do  you  know,  then,  whether  I  sleep  late, 
whether  I  keep  the  light  burning  a  long  time, 
whether  I  am  awake  at  night  ?  —  you  who  should 
be  in  your  room  at  nine  o'clock  every  evening  and 
go  to  bed  immediately." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        41 

"  Monsieur,  I  beg  your  pardon ;  but  at  times, 
when  the  wind  blows  or  the  thunder  growls,  it's 
impossible  for  me  to  sleep ;  then,  monsieur,  I  get 
up  to  pray  to  my  patron  saint,  or  cross  my  shovel 
and  tongs,  or  to  place  a  branch  of  boxwood  on 
my  bed.  You  know  boxwood  conjures  the  storm ; 
and  if  they  had  taken  some  of  it  formerly  to  the 
Arsenal,  on  the  Billi  Tower,  it  would  not  have 
been  entirely  destroyed  by  lightning  in  the  year 
1537  or  '38  —  I  don't  know  which  exactly." 

"  Hang  it !  leave  your  boxwood  and  the  Billi 
Tower  alone ;  answer  the  question  I  asked  you." 

"  That's  what  I'm  doing,  monsieur ;  it's  always 
the  wind  or  the  storm  which  makes  me  wakeful, 
and  as  my  window  faces  yours  (when  I  say  faces, 
it's  a  story  above),  then  I  see  your  light  some- 
times, and  it  seems  to  me  that  monsieur  is  walk- 
ing about  in  his  room,  I'm  not  very  certain  of 
it,  for  there  are  curtains,  and  the  shade  deceives 
one  sometimes." 

"As  I  wish  to  prevent  you  from  having  the 
trouble  of  making  sure  that  I  am  asleep,  this 
evening  you  will  change  your  room,  and  you  will 
sleep  in  that  which  is  above  my  apartments." 

"  What,  monsieur !  in  that  room  where  nobody 
ever  goes  ?  I  do  not  believe  that  it  has  been  in- 
habited since  I  came  here,  and  I  fear  —  ** 

"  That's  enough ;  see  that  you  obey ;  and  take 
care  not  to  spy  again  on  my  actions,  or  I  shall  be 
forced  to  send  you  away  from  the  house." 


42  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Mercy  !  how  ashamed  I  am  at  having  made 
you  scold  Marguerite ! "  said  Blanche,  again  ap- 
proaching the  barber.  "  If  she  said  that,  my  friend, 
it  was  because  of  the  interest  she  takes  in  your 
health.  You  know  well  that  she  is  very  much  at- 
tached to  you ;  but  since  it  makes  you  angry,  I 
promise  you  it  shall  not  occur  again.  Come, 
that's  the  last  of  it ;  you  won't  say  any  more  to 
her  about  it  —  will  you  ?  " 

Blanche's  voice  was  so  sweet,  so  touching,  that 
Touquet  lost  his  air  of  severity  and  very  nearly 
smiled  as  he  answered, — 

"  Yes,  that's  the  last  of  it ;  let  us  there  leave  it. 
As  to  you,  Blanche,  continue  to  be  good,  docile." 

"  And  you  will  let  me  go  out  a  little  —  will  you 
not  ?  You  will  allow  me  to  go  to  walk  in  the  Pre- 
aux-Clercs  or  on  the  Place  Royale  ? " 

"  We  shall  see ;  we  shall  see  a  little  later.  To 
amuse  yourself,  vary  your  employments." 

"  That's  what  I  do,  my  dear  ;  I  often  leave  my 
needle  to  spin  some  thread  ;  or,  better  still,  I  take 
my  tapestry  work.  Oh,  you  shall  see;  I'm  mak- 
ing something  very  pretty." 

"  I  know  your  talent  —  your  taste.  You  have 
a  sitar ;  you  can  amuse  yourself  by  playing  on  it. 
Chaudoreille  has  given  you  some  lessons." 

"  Yes ;  now  I  can  play  as  well  as  he  can,  for  I 
believe  he's  not  very  practised  on  it,  although  he 
says  he's  a  great  musician.  But  all  that  hardly  ever 
amuses  me ;  I  should  like  much  better  to  sit  at 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        43 

the  window  which  looks  on  the  street,  but  you 
won't  let  me  open  it.'' 

"  No,  Blanche ;  too  many  people  are  passing  in 
this  neighborhood ;  you  would  be  seen,  ogled,  in- 
sulted, by  the  bachelors,  the  pages,  who  take  pleas- 
ure in  annoying  people." 

"  Well,  I  won't  open  my  window.  However, 
if  you  were  willing  I  could  put  a  mask  on  my  face ; 
then  they  could  not  see  me." 

"  They  would  notice  you  none  the  less ;  be- 
sides, Blanche,  only  the  court  ladies  are  permitted 
to  wear  masks.  I  repeat  to  you,  avoid  the  glances 
of  these  impertinent  louts  who  run  the  streets,  og- 
ling at  all  the  windows.  You  are  not  yet  sixteen 
years  old.  In  some  years  I  shall  leave  Paris ;  I 
shall  sell  this  house,  and  I  shall  retire  into  the 
country ;  there  you  can  enjoy  more  liberty,  and 
there  you  will  taste  pleasures  which  are  worth  more 
than  any  this  city  could  offer  you. — But  someone 
is  coming  into  the  shop ;  go,  Blanche,  upstairs  to 
your  room." 

The  young  girl  kissed  the  barber  and  quickly 
regained  the  passage,  from  which  a  staircase  led  to 
her  chamber.  She  sighed  lightly  as  she  entered  it, 
and  said  to  herself,  while  glancing  around  her, — 

"  Always  here  !  Always  to  see  the  same  things  ! 
No  one  to  speak  to  except  Marguerite !  She  is 
very  good,  she  loves  me  very  much ;  but.  some- 
times her  stories  are  very  wearisome  to  me.  Well, 
then,  if  I  must  —  "  and  Blanche  took  up  a  piece 


44  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

of  tapestry  which  she  was  making  and  sang,  while 
working,  one  of  the  three  airs  which  her  music 
master  had  taught  her.  Soon  the  door  of  the  room 
opened ;  Marguerite  had  followed  the  young  girl, 
but  did  not  arrive  as  soon  as  she,  because  her  legs 
had  not  the  vivacity  of  sixteen  years.  The  old 
nurse  pouted,  for  Blanche  was  the  cause  of  her 
having  to  change  her  room,  which  was  no  small 
matter  to  Marguerite.  Blanche  perceived  it ;  she 
ran  in  front  of  the  old  woman,  made  her  sit  down, 
and  took  her  hands,  while  saying  to  her  with  a 
calming  smile, — 

"  Are  you  vexed  with  me,  nurse  ?  You  must 
have  seen  that  I  said  all  that  without  thinking 
that  there  was  anything  wrong  in  it." 

Who  could  resist  Blanche's  smile?  The  old 
woman  was  much  more  sensitive  to  such  sweet 
manners  because  people  rarely  used  them  with 
her ;  and  that  is  why  sometimes  an  old  man  loses 
his  reason  when  a  pretty  girl  casts  a  tender  glance 
at  him,  because  for  a  long  time  he  has  not  been 
in  the  habit  of  receiving  such  glances. 

**  Who  could  remain  angry  with  you  ?  **  said 
Marguerite,  pressing  Blanche's  hand ;  "  but  for  all 
that,  it's  very  disagreeable  to  change  rooms  —  to 
move  at  my  age." 

"  I  will  help  you,  dear  nurse ;  I  will  carry  every- 
thing." 

"Oh,  it's  not  that;  it's  on  the  same  landing; 
it's  not  far  to  carry  things.     But  the  room  I've 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        45 

lived  in  for  eight  years,  ever  since  I  came  here, 
was,  thanks  to  my  prayers  and  precautions,  pro- 
tected from  the  visits  of  all  evil  spirits.  There  I 
could  defy  all  attempts  of  sorcerers  and  magicians ; 
and  all  that  I  did  there  I  shall  have  to  do  over 
again  in  the  new  room  where  I  am  to  sleep.** 

"  Do  you  believe,  then.  Marguerite,  that  sor- 
cerers will  come  to  visit  you  if  you  don*t  take  all 
your  precautions  ?  *' 

"  And  why  not,  mademoiselle  ?  Don't  those 
people  get  in  wherever  they  can  penetrate  ?  There 
are  a  great  number  of  them  in  Paris.  They  carry 
away  the  corpses  off  the  gibbets  of  Montfaucon ; 
they  commit  a  thousand  horrors  to  make  their  sor- 
ceries successful.  It  is  now  nearly  fifty  years  ago 
(it  was  my  mother  who  told  me  that  story)  that  a 
lackey,  ruined  by  play,  sold  himself  to  the  devil 
for  ten  crowns.  The  demon  transformed  himself 
into  a  serpent  and  took  possession  of  the  lackey, 
introducing  himself  into  the  latter's  body  by  the 
mouth ;  and  from  that  time  on  the  unlucky  man 
made  horrible  grimaces,  because  the  devil  was  in 
his  body.  Some  years  later  a  watchman  was  car- 
ried off  by  a  sorcerer." 

"  Ah,  dear  nurse,  you  are  going  to  tell  me  some 
more  of  those  stories  which  will  make  me  timorous 
at  night." 

"  I  don't  tell  you  these  to  make  you  tremble, 
but  to  prove  to  you  that  it's  necessary  to  be  on 
one's  guard  against  magicians,  and  not  to  be  like 


46  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

those  incredulous  people  who  doubt  everything 
when  we  have  so  many  examples  of  the  power  of 
magic.  I'll  not  do  more  than  cite  to  you  the  Mare- 
chale  d'Ancre  and  Urbain  Grandier,  who  lodged 
some  devils  in  the  bodies  of  some  pious  Ursulines 
at  Loudun  ;  that  is  too  frightful.  But  I  will  only 
tell  you  what  happened  to  a  magician  called  Cesar 
Perditor;  that  dates  seventeen  years  back,  or  there- 
abouts. You  see,  my  dear  child,  that's  not  very 
ancient." 

"  But,  dear  nurse,  aren't  you  going  to  begin  your 
moving  ? "  said  Blanche,  who  did  not  seem  very 
eager  to  hear  Marguerite's  story. 

"  We've  plenty  of  time,"  answered  the  old  ser- 
vant as  she  drew  her  chair  close  to  Blanche's,  de- 
lighted to  relate  a  story  about  sorcerers,  although 
that  would  make  her  tremble  also.  Marguerite 
commenced  immediately  :  — 

"  This  Cesar  was,  said  they,  very  well  versed  in 
his  magic  art,  and  produced  at  his  will  both  hail 
and  thunder.  He  had  a  familiar  spirit,  and  a  dog 
that  carried  his  letters  and  brought  back  the  an- 
swers to  him.  At  a  quarter  of  a  league  distant  from 
this  city,  on  the  Gentilly  side,  he  lived  in  a  cave, 
in  which  he  caused  the  devil  and  all  his  infernal 
court  to  appear.  Ah,  my  poor  child ;  they  say  that 
at  a  great  distance  from  the  cave  a  frightful  noise 
might  be  heard  every  night.  He  made  love  phil- 
ters, and  wax  images,  by  means  of  which  he  caused 
the  persons  they  represented  to  languish  and  die. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        47 

"  One  day  —  no,  it  must  have  been  one  night 
—  an  old  man  came  to  the  cave,  who  appeared  to 
be  suffering  and  in  great  distress.  A  great  lord,  a 
libertine,  a  worthless  fellow,  had  stolen  away  his 
daughter,  his  only  child ;  the  old  man  in  his  de- 
spair, unable  to  obtain  justice,  went  to  the  magi- 
cian to  procure  the  means  of  revenging  himself 
upon  the  man  who  had  outraged  him." 

"  Nurse,  it  seems  to  me  your  master  is  calling 
you,"  said  Blanche,  interrupting  Marguerite. 

"  No,  no ;  he  did  not  call  me.  Except  at  meal 
times,  what  need  has  M.  Touquet  of  me  ?  But  as 
we  were  saying,  the  old  man  went  to  seek  a  magi- 
cian, and  the  latter  promised  him  help ;  in  fact, 
they  heard  more  noise  than  usual  in  the  cave  that 
night,  —  so  much  that  the  lieutenant  of  police  sent 
some  people  there,  and  Cesar  was  taken  and  led  to 
the  Bastile,  where  soon  after  the  devil  strangled 
him." 

"  And  the  old  man,  nurse  ? " 

"He  never  returned  to  his  dwelling ;  without 
doubt  the  devil  carried  him  away  also,  or  else  the 
great  nobleman,  having  learned  that  he  had  gone 
to  the  magician's  house.  But  nobody  knows  any- 
thing further  about  it.  Still,  that  will  prove  to  you, 
my  dear,  how  dangerous  it  is  to  have  anything  to 
do  with  those  people." 

"  Dear  nurse,  this  little  talisman  which  you  gave 
me,  that  I  wear,  —  is  not  that  the  work  of  a  sor- 
^ . 


48  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS  > 

"  Certainly  not,  darling ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is 
to  preserve  you  from  their  snares  that  I  gave  it 
to  you.  It  is  under  the  protection  of  my  patron 
saint ;  with  that,  my  dear  Blanche,  you  could  go 
about,  run  anywhere  ;  your  innocence  would  not 
be  in  the  slightest  danger." 

"  Why,  then,  does  my  good  friend  never  per- 
mit me  to  leave  my  room  ? " 

"  Ah,  my  dear  Blanche,  it  is  because  M.  Tou- 
quet  does  not  believe  in  talismans ;  and  it  is  very 
unfortunate  for  him." 

"  But  you.  Marguerite,  who  are  afraid  of  every- 
thing, —  why  don't  you  carry  a  similar  talisman  ? " 

"Ah,  my  child,  the  quality  of  yours  consists 
principally  in  preserving  your  virtue,  and  at  my 
age  one  has  no  need  of  a  talisman  to  preserve 
that." 

"  My  virtue !  Do  magicians  take  virtue  from 
young  girls  ? " 

**  Not  only  magicians,  but  fascinating  gallants, 
—  finally,  all  the  worthless  fellows  of  whom  M. 
Touquet  was  talking  to  you  this  morning." 

"  And  what  would  these  people  do  with  my  vir- 
tue?" 

"  My  dear  child,  that  is  to  say,  they  would  seek 
to  turn  your  head,  to  give  you  a  taste  for  coquetry, 
dissipation,  baubles,  vanity  and  deceit ;  then  you 
would  be  no  longer  my  good,  sweet  Blanche." 

"Ah,  I  understand;  but,  dear  nurse,  without 
a  talisman  I  fully  believe  that  I  should  never  have 


/         CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        49 

those  tastes.  I  would  do  nothing  that  should  cause 
trouble  to  those  who  had  taken  care  of  me  from 
my  infancy,  who  have  done  so  much  for  me  since 
I  lost  my  father." 

"  That's  all  very  well,  my  child,  but  with  a  talis- 
man you  see  I  am  much  easier ;  and  if  M.  Tou- 
quet  believed  about  it  as  I  do,  he  would  give  you 
a  little  more  liberty.  Not  that  I  blame  him  for 
fearing  for  you  the  attempts  of  worthless  fellows ; 
you  are  growing  every  day  so  pretty." 

"  Dear  nurse,  do  worthless  fellows  trouble  pretty 
girls,  then  ? " 

"  Alas,  yes,  my  dearie.  I  have  seen  them  often 
do  so ;  and,  unfortunately,  the  pretty  girls  listen 
willingly  to  the  good-for-nothing  fellows." 

"They  listen  willingly  to  them,  nurse?  Is  it 
because  they  speak  better  than  other  men  ? " 

"  No,  not  better,  but  they  know  so  well  how  to 
dissemble ;  their  speech  is  golden,  their  eyes  de- 
ceptive, their  manners  —  Ah,  how  glad  I  am  that 
you  have  a  talisman !  " 

"  But,  nurse,  since  I  do  not  leave  my  room  —  " 

"  That's  true,  my  dear ;  but  you  will  not  always 
keep  your  room,  and  under  my  watchful  care  it 
seems  to  me  that  one  could  very  well  allow  you  to 
take  a  little  walk  from  time  to  time.  M.  Touquet 
is  severe  —  very  severe  —  to  make  me  change  my 
lodging  because  I  noticed  that  he  did  not  sleep 
at  night.  Is  it  my  fault — mil  e  —  that  he  does 
not  sleep  ? " 

Vol.VH 


so  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"He  prevents  me  from  opening  my  window." 
"Ah,  that  is  because  it  opens  on  the  street; 
and  if  he  knew  you  looked  so  often  through  the 
lattice  —  But  no  one  can  possibly  see  you ;  the 
panes  are  so  small,  so  close  together." 
"  Oh,  yes  ;  it  is  like  a  grating." 
**A  father  could  not  be  more  strict." 
"  Ah,  Marguerite,  he  stands  to  me  in  the  place 
of  mine." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  I  know  it  well ;  however,  he  is  no 
relation  —  is  he  ? " 

"  No,  Marguerite ;  I  believe  not." 
"According  to  what  I  heard  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, before  I  came  into  his  service,  you  are  the 
daughter  of  a  poor  gentleman  who  came  to  Paris 
to  follow  a  lawsuit  about  ten  years  ago." 

**Yes,  dear  nurse;  I  was  then  five  years  and 
some  months  of  age.  It  seems  to  me,  however, 
that  I  still  remember  my  father ;  he  was  very  good, 
and  he  often  kissed  me." 

"  And  your  mother, — do  you  remember  her .? " 

"  Alas,  no ;  but  I  believe  I  can  still  remember 

the  time  when  my  father  and  I  arrived  here ;  we 

had  been  a  long  time  in  a  carriage,  and  came  from 

far  off." 

"And  M.  Touquet  lodged  you,  for  then  he 
kept  lodgings ;  and  after  that  ?  " 

"  I  was  very  tired  ;  they  gave  me  something  to 
eat  and  put  me  to  bed  in  this  room,  and  I  have 
always  occupied  it  since." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        51 

"And  after  that?" 

"  I  did  not  see  my  father  again.  The  next  day 
M.  Touquet  told  me  he  was  dead." 

"Yes;  it  was  very  unfortunate,  they  say.  There 
were  then,  as  there  are  very  often  still,  fights  in 
the  night  between  pages  and  lackeys  and  honest 
men,  who  were  often  attacked  by  these  cursed 
scoundrels  while  entering  their  own  houses.  That 
night  they  committed  a  thousand  disorders  in  the 
streets  of  Paris ;  several  persons  were  assassinated ; 
and  your  poor  father,  who  had  gone  out,  was, 
while  returning,  drawn  into  a  brawl,  and  perished 
trying  to  defend  himself.  That  is  all  that  I  have 
learned ;  do  you  know  anything  further  ? " 

"No,  Marguerite  ;  besides,  you  know  very  well 
that  my  protector  does  not  wish  me  to  talk  about 
that." 

"Yes,  because  he  fears  that  it  will  give  you 
pain." 

"  He  has  deigned  to  keep  me  near  him,  to  edu- 
cate me  as  his  daughter  and  give  me  some  accom- 
plishments ;  and  I  have  for  him  the  most  lively 
gratitude." 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  he  has  done  very  well  by  you.  He 
loves  you,  although  he  is  not  caressing,  nor  does 
he  say  much  ;  and  I  am  very  sure  that  he  has  the 
greatest  interest  in  you.  It  seems  that  he  does 
not  intend  himself  to  marry,  although  he  is  still 
young.  He  is  in  easy  circumstances,  —  more  so 
than  he  wishes  it  to  appear." 


52  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Do  you  believe  that.  Marguerite  ? " 

"  Ah,  hush !  If  he  knew  that  I  had  said  that, 
and  that  I  had  sometimes  seen  him  counting  gold, 
he  would  send  me  away  for  it." 

**  You  have  seen  him  counting  gold  ?  '* 

"  I  did  not  say  that  to  you,  mademoiselle.  No, 
no ;  I  have  seen  nothing.  Ah,  mon  Dieu  I  what 
a  gossip  I  am !  I  had  much  better  go  and  attend 
to  my  moving." 

"  I  will  go  with  you,  dear  nurse." 

"  Come  then,  if  you  like,  Blanche." 

Blanche  followed  Marguerite  as  she  went  up, 
and  hastened  to  carry  the  furniture  and  clothing 
of  the  old  servant  to  the  opposite  room.  In  vain 
Marguerite  cried  to  her,  — 

"  Slowly,  mademoiselle ;  don't  carry  anything 
until  I  have  sprinkled  it  with  holy  water." 

Blanche,  to  spare  Marguerite  fatigue,  had  very 
soon  finished  the  moving. 

"  You  will  be  better  here,"  said  Blanche ; "  this 
room  is  more  convenient,  larger." 

"  I  shall  find  it  pretty  sad,"  said  Marguerite, 
casting  fearful  glances  around  her.  "  That  large 
alcove,  those  dark  hangings,  those  recesses —  Oh, 
mademoiselle,  do  see,  if  you  please,  if  there  is 
anything  in  that  big  closet." 

Blanche  ran  to  open  the  closet,  and,  after  hav- 
ing looked  through  it,  brought  to  Marguerite  a 
little  book,  thick  with  dust. 

"That's  all  I've  found,  dear  nurse,"  said  she. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        S3 

presenting  the  book  to  the  old  woman,  who  put 
on  her  spectacles  and  said,  — 

"  Let's  see  a  bit  what  it  is." 

Marguerite  succeeded,  with  no  little  trouble,  in 
reading,  "Conjuring-book  of  the  Sorcerer  Odoard, 
the  Famous  Tier  of  Tags." 

"  Ah,  mon  Dieu  !  "  said  Marguerite,  letting  the 
book  fall ;  "  I  am  lost  if  that  sorcerer  has  slept  in 
this  room.     Misericorde !  a  tier  of —  " 

"  What  does  that  mean,  —  a  tier  of  tags  ? " 

"  That  is  to  say  —  that  is  to  say,  mademoiselle, 
a  very  wicked  man,  who  doesn't  love  his  kind ; 
a  man  who  casts  spells  to  make  folks  unlucky." 

"  Are  there  any  of  those  sorcerers  now  ?  " 

"  Alas,  yes,  my  dear  child  ;  they  are  always  cast- 
ing spells,  for  I  have  met  during  my  life  several 
persons  who  have  been  bewitched  by  them.  Let 
us  burn  that ;  let's  burn  that  quick." 

Marguerite  hurried  to  throw  the  book  of  sor- 
ceries on  to  the  hearth,  where  she  lit  a  fire ;  then 
she  began  to  pray  to  her  patron  saint,  and  Blanche 
went  down  to  her  work. 


CHAPTER  IV 

The  Chevalier  Chaudoreille 

Blanche  and  Marguerite  had  no  sooner  taken 
their  departure  from  the  back  room  and  returned 
to  their  customary  avocations,  than  Touquet  has- 
tened to  meet  a  man  who  had  come  into  the  shop, 
saying  to  him,  in  a  friendly  tone, — 

"  Come  in,  come  in,  my  dear  Chaudoreille, 
you Ve  made  me  wait  a  deuce  of  a  time  and  today 
I  have  something  really  important  to  say  to 
you." 

The  personage  who  had  just  come  into  Maitre 
Touquet's  house  was  a  man  of  a  very  striking  and 
peculiar  appearance,  about  thirty-five  years  of  age, 
though  he  appeared  at  least  forty-five,  so  worn  was 
his  face  and  so  hollow  his  cheeks.  His  yellow 
skin  was  only  relieved  by  two  little  scarlet  spots 
formed  on  the  prominence  of  his  cheek  bones, 
which  by  their  brightness  and  their  gloss  betrayed 
their  origin.  His  eyes  were  small  but  bright; 
and  M.  Chaudoreille  rolled  them  continually, 
never,  by  any  chance,  fixing  them  on  the  person 
to  whom  he  was  speaking.  His  short  snub  nose 
contrasted  with  his  large  mouth,  which  was  sur- 
mounted by  an  immense  red  mustache,  the  color 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        55 

of  his  hair ;  while  beneath  his  lower  lip  a  tuft  of 
beard  terminated  in  a  point  on  his  chin. 

The  height  of  the  chevalier  was  barely  five  feet, 
and  the  leanness  of  his  body  was  accentuated  by 
the  threadbare  close  jacket  which  enveloped  it ; 
the  buttons  of  his  doublet  were  missing  in  many 
places,  and  some  ill-executed  darns  seemed  ready 
to  gape  into  holes ;  his  breeches,  being  much  too 
large,  made  his  thighs  appear  of  enormous  size, 
and  made  the  legs  which  issued  from  them  appear 
still  more  lanky,  for  his  boots,  with  flaring  tops 
which  drooped  to  his  ankles,  could  not  hide  the 
absence  of  calves.  These  boots,  of  a  dark  yellow, 
had  heels  two  inches  high,  and  were  habitually 
adorned  with  spurs  ;  the  doublet  and  smallclothes 
were  of  a  faded  rose  color,  and  accompanied  by  a 
little  cloak  of  the  same  tint,  which  barely  covered 
his  figure ;  in  addition  to  these,  he  wore  a  very 
high  ruff,  a  small  hat  surmounted  by  an  old  red 
plume,  worn  slanted  over  one  eye,  an  old  belt  of 
green  silk,  a  sword  which  was  very  much  longer 
than  anyone  else  carried,  and  of  which  the  handle 
came  up  to  his  breast.  The  above  is  a  very  faith- 
ful portrait  of  the  one  who  called  himself  the 
Chevalier  de  Chaudoreille,  if  we  add  that  his  slight 
Gascon  accent  denoted  his  origin ;  that  he  marched 
with  his  head  high,  his  nose  in  the  air,  his  hand 
on  his  hip,  his  legs  stiff,  as  though  ready  to  put 
himself  on  his  guard ;  and  that  he  appeared  dis- 
posed to  defy  all  passers-by. 


S6  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

On  entering  the  shop  Chaudoreille  threw  him- 
self on  a  bench,  like  one  overcome  by  fatigue,  and 
placed  his  hat  near  him,  crying,  — 

"  Let  us  rest.  By  George !  I  well  deserve  to. 
Oh !  what  a  night !   Good  God !  what  a  night !  ** 

"  And  what  the  devil  did  you  do  last  night  to 
make  you  so  tired  ? " 

"  Oh,  nothing  more  than  usual  for  me,  it's  true : 
flogged  three  or  four  big  rascals  who  wished  to 
stop  the  chair  of  a  countess,  wounded  two  pages 
who  were  insulting  a  young  girl,  gave  a  big  stroke 
with  my  sword  to  a  student  who  was  going  to  in- 
troduce himself  into  a  house  by  the  window,  de- 
livered over  to  the  watch  four  robbers  who  were 
about  to  plunder  a  poor  gentleman.  That's  nearly 
all  that  I  did  last  night." 

"  Hang  it ! "  said  Touquet,  smiling  ironically, 
"do  you  know,  Chaudoreille,  that  you  yourself 
are  worth  three  patrols  of  the  watch  ?  It  seems  to 
me  that  the  King  or  Monsieur  le  Cardinal  should 
recompense  such  fine  conduct  and  nominate  you 
to  some  important  place  in  the  police  of  this  city, 
in  place  of  leaving  a  man  so  brave,  so  useful,  to 
ramble  about  the  streets  all  day,  and  haunt  the 
gambling-hells  in  order  to  try  to  borrow  a  crown." 

"  Yes,"  said  Chaudoreille,  without  appearing  to 
notice  the  latter  part  of  the  barber's  phrase,  "  I 
know  that  I  am  very  brave,  and  that  my  sword 
has  often  been  very  useful  to  the  State  —  that  is 
to  say,  to  the  oppressed.     I  work  without  pay; 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        57 

I  yield  to  every  movement  of  my  heart ;  it's  in 
the  blood.  Zounds !  honor  before  everything ; 
and  in  this  century  we  do  not  jest.  I  am  what 
somebody  at  court  calls  a  *rake  of  honor*:  an 
offensive  twinkle  of  the  eye,  a  rather  cold  bow,  a 
cloak  which  rubs  against  mine,  presto  !  my  sword 
is  in  my  hand ;  I  am  conscious  of  nothing  but 
that ;  I  would  fight  with  a  child  of  five  years  if  he 
treated  me  with  disrespect." 

"  I  know  that  we  live  in  the  age  when  one  fights 
for  a  mere  trifle,  but  I  never  heard  it  said  that 
your  duels  had  caused  much  stir." 

"  What  the  devil,  my  dear  Touquet !  the  dead 
cannot  speak ;  and  those  who  have  an  affair  with 
me  never  return.  You  have  heard  tell  of  the  fa- 
mous Balagni,  nicknamed  the  *  Brave,'  who  was 
killed  in  a  duel  about  fifteen  years  ago.  Well,  my 
friend,  I  am  his  pupil  and  his  successor." 

"  It's  unfortunate  for  you  that  you  didn't  come 
into  the  world  two  centuries  earlier ;  tourneys  are 
beginning  to  be  out  of  fashion,  and  chevaliers  who 
right  all  wrongs,  giant  killers,  one  no  longer  sees 
except  on  the  stage  at  plays." 

"  It's  very  certain  that  if  I  had  lived  in  the  time 
of  the  Crusades  I  should  have  brought  from  Pal- 
estine a  thousand  Saracens'  ears,  but  my  dear  Ro- 
lande  was  there.  This  redoubtable  sword,  which 
came  to  me  from  a  distant  cousin,  was  the  one  car- 
ried by  Rolande  the  Furious ;  it  has  sent  a  devil 
of  a  lot  of  men  into  the  other  world." 


58  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  I'm  always  afraid  that  you  will  fall  over  It;  it 
seems  to  me  too  big  for  you." 

"It  has,  however,  been  curtailed  an  inch  since  I 
have  had  it,  and  that  by  reason  of  its  having  been 
used  so  much.  I  fear  that  if  I  should  continue  in 
the  same  style,  it  will  become  a  little  dagger." 

"  Stop  talking  about  your  prowess,  Chaudo- 
reille ;  I  have  to  speak  to  you  of  matters  more  in- 
teresting than  that." 

"  If  you  will  shave  me  first;  I  have  great  need 
of  it.  My  beard  grows  twice  as  quickly  at  night 
when  I  do  not  sup  in  the  evening." 

"It  looks  as  if  you  had  dieted  for  some  days, 
then." 

While  the  barber  prepared  everything  that  was 
necessary  for  shaving  Chaudoreille,  the  latter  de- 
tached his  sword.  After  having  looked  all  over  the 
shop  in  search  of  a  place  in  which  it  seemed  con- 
venient to  put  it,  he  decided  to  keep  it  on  his 
knees ;  he  relieved  himself  of  his  cloak,  then  he 
took  off  the  faded  ruff  which  surrounded  his  neck, 
and  abandoned  his  odd,  lean  little  figure  to  the 
cares  of  Touquet,  who  came  forward  bearing  a  basin 
and  a  soapball.  The  barber  began  by  taking  and 
throwing  into  a  corner  of  the  shop  the  sword  which 
Chaudoreille  was  holding  on  his  knees.  The  cheva- 
lier made  a  movement  of  despair,  crying, — 

"  What  are  you  doing,  unhappy  man  ?  You  will 
break  Rolande,  the  sword  which  Charlemagne's 
nephew  carried.'* 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        S9 

"  If  it's  such  a  good  blade  it  won't  break.  How 
do  you  think  I  can  shave  you  holding  that  great 
halberd  on  your  knee  ?  " 

"  It's  necessary  to  handle  it  with  care  at  least. 
Zounds !  you  are  nearly  as  quick  as  I  am." 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  cut  your  mustaches  ? " 

"  No,  no,  —  never.  A  chevalier  without  mus- 
taches !  What  are  you  thinking  of?  Do  you  want 
people  to  take  me  for  a  young  girl  ? " 

"  I  don't  think  anyone  could  so  deceive  him- 
self." 

"  That's  all  right ;  I  especially  pride  myself  on 
my  mustaches,  and  the  imperial  that  gives  a  mas- 
cuhne  air.  Ah,  King  Francis  the  First  knew  very 
well  what  he  was  doing  when  he  wore  that  little 
pointed  beard  on  his  chin.  Don't  you  think  that 
I  bear  some  resemblance  to  that  monarch  ?  " 

"  You  resemble  him  so  much,  in  fact,  that  I  defy 
anyone,  no  matter  who  it  might  be,  to  perceive  it. 
But  let's  get  to  my  business :  I  wish  to  employ 
you.   Your  time  is  free  ?  " 

"  Free  ?  Yes ;  that  is  to  say,  for  you  there  is 
nothing  that  I  won't  leave.  I've  only  two  or  three 
amorous  appointments  and  five  or  six  affairs  of 
honor  ;  but  those  can  be  put  off," 

"  There's  some  money  to  be  earned." 

"I'm  a  man  who  would  put  myself  in  the  fire 
to  make  myself  useful." 

"  The  business  is  not  positively  my  own." 

"  Yes,  I  understand,  —  a  delicate  mission.  You 


6o  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

know  that  I've  already  served  you  in  many  such 
cases." 

"I  hope  that  you'll  be  more  adroit  this  time;  for 
the  manner  in  which  you  conducted  yourself  in  the 
last  matters  in  which  I  employed  you  should  have 
prevented  me  from  asking  you  to  serve  me  again." 

"Oh,  my  dear  Touquet,  don't  be  unjust;  it 
seems  to  me  that  I  managed  them  passably  well. 
First,  you  desired  me  to  carry  a  letter  to  a  young 
lady  without  letting  her  parents  know  of  it." 

"  Yes ;  and  you  positively  gave  the  note  to  her 
mother." 

"  What  the  devil !  how  should  I  know  it  was 
her  mother?  That  woman  had  rouge,  flowers, 
laces,  a  corset  which  made  her  waist  about  as  thick 
as  my  purse ;  I  believed  her  to  be  the  young  lady. 
With  their  hoops,  basquines  and  immense  head- 
dresses, it  will  soon  be  impossible  to  distinguish 
the  sexes." 

"Another  time  I  told  you  to  feign  a  quarrel 
with  one  of  your  friends,  so  as  to  draw  a  crowd  to- 
gether in  the  street  in  order  to  stop  the  chair  of  a 
young  woman  to  whom  someone  wished  to  speak ; 
but  after  two  or  three  blows  had  passed  you  ran 
away." 

"  Ah,  my  friend,  but  that  does  not  detract  from 
my  bravery.  I  knew  that  the  quarrel  was  only  pre- 
tended ;  despite  that,  at  the  third  blow  I  felt  the 
blood  mount  to  my  face,  and  I  ran  away  for  fear 
of  getting  angry." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       6i 

"  This  time  I  hope  you  will  conduct  yourself 
better.'* 

**  Speak,  if  you  have  need  of  my  valor." 

**  No,  thank  God,  I  shan't  have  to  put  your 
valor  to  the  proof;  the  matter  is  very  simple  and 
will  not  cost  you  a  great  effort  of  genius." 

"  So  much  the  worse ;  I  swear  by  Rolande  that 
I  feel  disposed  to  brave  every  terror,  —  Take  care, 
my  friend ;  your  razor  almost  touched  my  nose ; 
you  will  end  by  taking  off  a  piece,  and  that  would 
destroy  the  charm  of  my  physiognomy." 

"  Fear  nothing,  most  valorous  Chaudoreille ;  I 
will  respect  your  face ;  it  would  be  a  pity  to  spoil 
it." 

"  Yes,  most  assuredly ;  it  would  cause  tears  to 
more  than  one  great  lady  who  deigns  to  look  with 
favor  upon  your  humble  servant." 

"  Those  great  ladies  would  do  well  if  they  gave 
you  another  doublet,  for  yours  has  well  earned  its 
retirement." 

"My  dear  fellow,  love  doesn't  pause  for  such 
trifles ;  I  please  with  or  without  a  doublet ;  the 
figure  is  everything,  and  I'm  more  than  a  match 
for  many  a  chevalier  covered  with  tinsel  and  gew- 
gaws ;  besides,  if  I  wished  to  have  some  lace  or 
cuflfs  or  trinkets,  I  should  not  have  to  give  more 
than  a  smile  for  them.  Ah,  by  Jove  !  —  Take  care 
there,  my  brave  Touquet.  See  !  your  neighbor's 
dog  is  going  to  take  my  ruff.  Ah,  the  rogue  !  he's 
holding  it  in  his  chops." 


62  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  You  must  take  it  away  from  him." 
"  That's  very  easy  for  you  to  say.  That  cursed 
dog  bites  everybody." 

Chaudoreille  got  up,  half  shaved,  and  ran  and 
took  his  sword,  which  he  drew  from  the  scabbard  ; 
but  during  this  time  the  dog  had  left  the  shop, 
carrying  off  the  ruif,  and  the  boastful  chevalier 
pursued  him  into  the  street,  crying,  — 

"  My  ruff!  Zounds,  my  ruiFl  Stop  thief  I " 
The  shouts  of  Chaudoreille  made  the  dog  run 
more  quickly,  and  the  passers-by  looked  on  with 
astonishment  at  the  half-dressed  man,  with  one 
cheek  shaven  and  the  other  covered  with  soap, 
who  ran,  sword  in  hand,  crying,  "  Stop  thief! " 
The  idlers  gathered — :for  there  were  idlers  as  early 
as  1632  —  and  followed  Chaudoreille,  that  they 
might  see  the  end  of  the  adventure.  The  children 
stoned  the  dog,  which  redoubled  its  speed,  passed 
through  an  alleyway  and  disappeared  from  Chau- 
doreille's  sight.  The  latter,  who  could  do  no  more, 
stopped  at  length,  heaving  a  big  sigh.  His  anger 
was  redoubled  when  he  saw  everybody  looking  and 
laughing  at  him ;  he  swore  then,  but  so  low  that 
nobody  could  hear  him ;  and,  making  the  best  of 
his  way  through  the  crowd  which  surrounded  him, 
he  sadly  regained  the  barber's  house. 

"  You  must  be  a  fool,  to  run  through  the  street 
like  that,"  said  Touquet,  who  had  grown  impa- 
tient during  Chaudoreille's  race ;  "  you  deserve 
that  I  shouldn't  finish  shaving  you." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       63 

"  Oh,  zounds  !  that  is  very  easy  for  you  to  say ; 
I  have  been  robbed  —  a  magnificent  ruff." 

"You  can  put  on  another." 

"  I  haven't  another." 

"  With  a  smile  you  could  have  as  many  as  you 
wish." 

"  Yes,  yes ;  but  I'm  not  by  way  of  smiling  just 
now." 

"  Come,  calm  yourself.  If  our  affair  is  success- 
ful, as  I've  no  doubt  it  will  be,  I'll  give  you  some 
crowns  with  which  you  can  buy  other  collars ;  for 
ruffs  are  no  longer  in  fashion." 

This  assurance  alleviated  somewhat  Chaudo- 
reille's  grief,  and  he  reseated  himself,  that  the  bar- 
ber might  finish  shaving  him. 

"  You  will  go  today  into  the  city,"  resumed  the 
barber,  while  finishing  the  chevalier's  toilet, — 
"  into  the  Rue  de  la  Calandre ;  you  will  go  into  a 
perfumer's  shop  which  is  about  half-way  down  the 
street." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  know ;  that  is  where  I  supply  my- 
self." 

"  Better  and  better !  It  will  be  easier  for  you  to 
obtain  an  entrance.  You  should  know,  then,  the 
young  girl  whom  I  will  describe  to  you :  twenty 
years  old,  of  medium  height,  unrestrained  figure, 
brown  hair  and  intelligent  black  eyes." 

"  Listen ;  I  don't  believe  that  I  know  her,  see- 
ing that  it's  two  or  three  years  since  I  bought  any 
perfumery,  because  scents  make  me  nervous." 


64  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

**  If  you  could  dispense  with  lying  to  me,  Chau- 
doreille,  at  every  turn,  you  would  give  me  great 
pleasure." 

"  What  do  I  understand  by  that  ?  I  lie  ?  By 
jingo !    I  swear  to  you,  by  Rolande  —  " 

"  Hold  your  tongue  and  listen.  A  great  noble- 
man is  in  love  with  the  young  girl  whose  portrait 
I  have  just  given  you.  This  great  nobleman  is  the 
Marquis  de  Villebelle." 

"  By  Jove !  What,  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle ! 
He*s  a  jolly  fellow,  who  makes  everybody  talk 
about  him.  I'm  delighted  to  work  for  a  man  of 
that  stamp ;  he's  as  brave  as  he  is  generous.  That's 
a  profligate  after  my  own  heart.  I  shall  be  glad  to 
give  him  proofs  of  my  zeal  and  my  genius." 

"  You'll  have  to  begin  by  holding  your  tongue ; 
remember,  the  least  indiscretion  will  cost  you  dear. 
I  should  not  have  told  you  the  name  of  the  one 
who  is  concerned  in  this  matter  if  the  young  girl 
had  not  known ;  but  as  she  might  herself  tell  you, 
it  is  better  that  you  should  learn  it  from  me.  Re- 
member, you  are  still  in  my  employ,  and  not  in 
that  of  the  marquis.  I  could  myself  have  dis- 
charged the  commission  which  he  gave  me,  but  I 
am  beginning  to  have  a  reputation  for  probity  and 
wisdom ;  it  is  generally  thought  that,  turning  from 
the  errors  of  my  youth,  I  no  longer  mix  in  in- 
trigues, and  I  don't  wish  to  disturb  the  good  opin- 
ion they  now  have  of  me  in  this  neighborhood." 

"  Ah,  rascal,  you're  as  mischievous  as  a  mon- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        6^ 

key ;  you  think  of  nothing  but  increasing  your 
business,  and  your  cold,  severe  air  deceives  some 
people.  You're  right,  by  jingo  !  One  must  dis- 
semble ;  it's  the  essence  of  intrigue,  and  I  shall 
try  to  throw  off  the  appearance  of  being  a  libertine 
and  a  profligate  in  order  that  I  may  be  more  suc- 
cessful in  wheedling  the  little  innocent." 

The  barber  shrugged  his  shoulders  impatiently, 
and  again  approached  the  blade  of  his  razor  to 
Chaudorcille's  nose.  The  latter's  face  became  still 
paler,  except  the  spots  on  his  cheeks,  where  the 
color  seemed  immovable. 

"  Curse  it  1 "  cried  Touquet,  while  holding  the 
end  of  Chaudorcille's  nose  between  his  fingers,  to 
prevent  him  from  moving,  while  he  plied  the  ra- 
zor ;  "  can't  you  ever  keep  still  and  refrain  from 
trembling  beneath  my  razor  blade?  You  deserve 
to  be  slashed  all  over  your  face.  —  Come,  get  up ; 
it's  finished." 

"  Many  thanks,"  said  Chaudoreille,  breathing 
more  freely  ;  "  I  am  shaved  like  a  cherubim.  Oh, 
you  have  a  hand  as  dexterous  as  it's  nimble.  That 
makes  seventy-seven  shaves  that  I  owe  you  for." 

"  That's  all  right ;  we'll  reckon  that  later." 

"  I  know  that  you'll  recall  it  to  me ;  you're  not 
like  the  barber  who  shaved  one  of  my  friends  on 
credit,  and  who  made  a  notch  in  him  every  time, 
to  mark  the  shave,  he  said." 

"  Before  the  people  come  in,  let  us  agree  on 
what  we  have  to  do," 

Tol.VII 


66  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

**  Speak  on ;  I  am  listening  while  I  am  washing 
myself.** 

"  You  will  go,  then,  to  the  perfumer's  shop,  and 
while  buying  something — ** 

"  Oh,  yes ;  a  collar  or  a  rufF." 

"  No  matter,  —  no  matter  what." 

"  I  find  that  rufFs  suit  me  better." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  cursed  chatterer ;  there's 
nobody  here  to  notice  your  face.  You  will  enter 
into  conversation  with  the  young  girl  I  have  de- 
picted ;  you  will  say  to  her  that  M.  le  Marquis  is 
in  love  with  her  to  the  point  of  distraction.*' 

"  Yes ;  I  shall  say  to  her  that  he  will  stab  him- 
self before  her  eyes  if  she  won't  meet  him.** 

"  It's  not  a  question  of  killing  himself,  idiot. 
That's  a  fine  way  to  seduce  a  grisette  !  " 

"  I  never  seduced  them  any  other  way." 

"  Talk  about  presents,  jewelry ;  they  respond  to 
that  much  quicker." 

**  Each  one  to  his  own  method ;  as  for  me,  I 
never  make  love  that  way ;  for  the  rest,  I'll  say 
everything  that  you  wish ;  I'll  make  the  marquis 
as  generous  and  magnificent  as  a  native  of  Gas- 
cony." 

"  Finally,  you  will  demand  a  rendezvous,  in  the 
name  of  the  marquis,  for  tomorrow  evening." 

"Where  shall  it  be?" 

"Wherever  you  like,  but  preferentially  in  an 
unfi-equented  quarter." 

**  Very  well ;  and  after  ?  " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       67 

"  Oh,  the  rest  is  my  affair." 

"A  moment :  if  the  little  one  doesn't  grant  an 
interview  ? " 

"What  are  you  thinking  of?  A  shop  girl  who 
knows  that  she  is  pleasing  to  the  noble  Seigneur 
de  Villebelle — I  am  certain  that  she's  on  tenter- 
hooks already  because  no  messenger  has  reached 
her.  You  must  beware  of  committing  any  blunder 
which  will  render  you  unsuccessful." 

"  Be  easy;  I'm  not  a  clown,  I  flatter  myself,  and 
I  wish  by  this  affair  to  put  myself  in  the  good 
graces  of  the  marquis." 

"  Yet  again,  it  is  not  for  him,  but  for  me,  that 
you  are  doing  the  business ;  if  you  should  allow  a 
single  word  of  this  adventure  to  escape  in  the  town, 
if  you  should  have  the  misfortune  to  mention  the 
marquis,  remember  that  then  the  blade  of  my  ra- 
zor won't  leave  that  face  whole  about  which  you 
seem  to  make  such  a  fuss." 

The  barber's  eyes  evinced  his  firm  determina- 
tion of  keeping  his  promise;  Chaudoreille  hastened 
to  get  his  sword  and  attach  it  to  his  side  while  mur- 
muring, — 

"  Yes,  undoubtedly  I  make  much  of  my  face ; 
it  is  very  worthy  of  the  trouble,  and  has  given  me 
many  happy  moments.  This  devil  of  a  Touquet 
is  always  joking,  but  between  friends  one  should 
not  get  angry.  We  are  both  aware  of  our  mutual 
bravery,  and  it's  superfluous  for  us  to  give  proofs 
of  it.    I  swear  to  you  by  Rolande  that  I  will  use 


68  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

the  greatest  discretion,  that  I  may  be  relied  on. 
Our  acquaintance  doesn't  date  from  today ;  for 
nearly  fifteen  years  we  have  been  united  in  friend- 
ship. We  are  two  jolly  fellows  who  have  played 
our  pranks.  How  many  intrigues  have  we  con- 
ducted by  our  skill,  without  counting  our  per- 
sonal prowess  !  You,  built  like  a  Hercules,  an 
antique  figure,  noble  carriage,  —  you  would  have 
adored  big  women  —  that  is  to  say,  tall  women ; 
I,  smaller  but  well  made,  with  a  more  modern 
physiognomy,  —  I  prefer  them  more  graceful  and 
slender.  But  love  never  troubled  you  much ;  you 
prefer  money.  Ah,  money  and  play, — those  have 
been  your  pleasures.  As  for  me,  I'm  fond  of  gam- 
ing also ;  I  play  a  very  strong  game  of  piquet. 
But  gallantry  employs  a  great  part  of  my  time.  I 
can't  help  it ;  I  love  the  women.  But  that's  not 
astonishing ;  I  am  their  spoilt  child ;  they  have 
strewn  the  path  of  my  life  with  flowers,  without 
counting  all  those  that  still  remain  for  me  to  cull. 
I  dedicated  to  them  my  heart  and  my  sword.  But 
love  and  valor  do  not  always  lead  to  fortune ;  you 
have  gathered  wealth  quicker  than  I,  and  I  compli- 
ment you  upon  it.  While  I  have  been  following 
after  some  Venus,  you  have  conducted  without  my 
aid  some  intricate  intrigues;  for  this  house  did 
not  belong  to  you  formerly,  and  now  you  are  the 
proprietor  of  it ;  it  did  not  fall  to  you  from  the 
clouds." 

**  What  are  you  meddling  with  ?  "  said  the  bar- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       69 

ber  angrily.  "  What  does  it  matter  to  you  how  I 
acquired  this  house?  When  I've  employed  you 
haven't  I  paid  you,  and  often  a  good  deal  better 
than  you  deserve?  I've  already  told  you,  Chau- 
doreille,  that  if  you  wish  that  we  remain  friends, 
and  if  you  desire  through  me  to  earn  money 
from  time  to  time,  you  had  better  not  begin  your 
foolish  questions,  nor  seek  to  learn  that  which 
I  do  not  judge  fit  to  confide  to  you;  otherwise  I 
shall  show  you  my  door  and  you  will  never  enter 
it  again." 

"  Oh,  not  so  fast.  By  jingo  I  he*s  a  little  Vesu- 
vius,—  this  dear  Touquet.  If  I  gave  way  to  my 
natural  temper  we  should  see  some  fine  things; 
however,  that's  ended  ;  silence  on  that  subject. 
Now  I  am  dressed ;  I  lack  nothing  but  my  ruflf; 
how  can  I  go  out  without  that  ?  " 

"You  went  out  very  well  a  minute  ago,  half 
dressed." 

"  But  a  minute  ago  I  was  sword  in  hand,  and 
in  those  moments  I  see  nothing  but  my  victim. 
It's  all  right;  I  will  pull  my  cloak  up  a  little 
higher.  Ah,  I  was  forgetting  an  essential.  That 
I  may  buy  something  in  the  little  one's  shop  it's 
necessary  that  I  should  have  some  money,  and  my 
pockets  are  empty  this  morning." 

"  Wait ;  take  these  ten  crowns,  on  account  of 
what  I  shall  give  you  if  you  fulfil  my  instructions 
correctly." 

"That's  well  understood,"  said  Chaudoreille, 


70  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

taking  the  money  and  drawing  from  his  belt  an 
old  silk  purse,  which  had  formerly  been  red,  in 
which  he  placed,  one  by  one,  with  an  air  of  re- 
spect, the  ten  pieces  which  the  barber  had  given 
him. 

"It's  still  too  early,"  said  Touquet,  "for  you 
to  go  to  the  perfumer's  ;  those  dames  do  not  open 
their  shops  as  early  as  we  do  ours ;  while  waiting 
till  the  time  comes  for  you  to  execute  your  com- 
mission couldn't  you  go  up  and  see  Blanche,  and 
give  her  a  music  lesson?  That  will  amuse  her, 
and  I  notice  that  she  does  not  find  much  to  dis- 
tract her  in  her  room,  where  she  sees  no  one  but 
Marguerite." 

At  the  name  of  Blanche,  Chaudoreille  raised  his 
eyes  to  Heaven,  and  heaved  a  sigh  which  he  stifled 
immediately,  crying, — 

**  By  the  way,  how  is  she,  the  pretty  child  ?  I 
was  going  to  ask  you  about  her,  for  it  is  a  century 
since  I  have  seen  her." 

**  She's  very  well,  but  she's  tired  of  being  in  the 
house  and  wishes  to  go  out." 

"  What  the  devil !  why  don't  you  send  me  more 
often  to  keep  her  company  ?  I  can  amuse  her,  my 
beautiful  Blanche,  and  I  can  play  something  for 
her." 

"  Tm  not  sure  that  you  can  amuse  her  much. 
Blanche  said  to  me  that  you  always  sang  the  same 
things,  and  that  she  now  knew  as  much  as  you  do 
of  the  sitar." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       71 

"  These  young  girls  are  full  of  conceit.  I  con- 
fess that  she's  made  rapid  progress,  and  that  is  not 
astonishing ;  I  have  a  way  of  teaching  which  would 
make  a  donkey  capable  of  singing  songs  ;  besides, 
the  little  one  is  intelligent,  but  I  flatter  myself  that 
I  can  still  teach  her  something  more." 

"  Chaudoreille,  I  have  given  you  a  great  proof 
of  my  confidence  in  permitting  you  to  see  Blanche; 
you  must  swear  to  me  that  you  will  never  speak  of 
her  beauty." 

"  Be  easy ;  when  by  chance  anyone  asks  me  if 
I  know  the  young  girl  who  is  under  your  care,  I 
answer — since  we  are  on  the  subject  —  that  I  have 
seen  her  three  or  four  times,  and  that  she  is  neither 
one  thing  nor  the  other, — one  of  those  faces  which 
people  say  nothing  about." 

"  That's  well ;  if  anyone  imagined  that  this 
house  held  one  of  the  prettiest  women  in  Paris, 
I  should  nevermore  have  a  moment's  peace;  I 
should  be  incessantly  tormented  by  a  crowd  of  gal- 
lants, of  profligates,  of  libertines ;  I  should  see  this 
house  become  the  rendezvous  of  all  the  worthless 
fellows  of  the  neighborhood.  I  couldn't  go  away 
for  a  moment  without  one  of  them  trying  to  intro- 
duce himself  to  Blanche,  and  Marguerite's  watch- 
fulness would  be  as  insufiicient  as  my  own  to 
frustrate  all  the  enterprises  of  these  gallants.  It  is 
to  avoid  all  this  annoyance  that  I  withdraw  Blanche 
from  the  notice  of  curious  people." 

"  Oh,  as  far  as  that  goes,  you  do  very  well ; 


72  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

I  quite  approve  your  conduct ;  you  must  not  let 
them  see  her,  nor  allow  her  to  go  out  for  a  mo- 
ment. If  you  wish,  I  can  say  everywhere  that  she*s 
horrible,  —  blind  of  one  eye,  lame,  and  hump- 
backed." 

"  No,  no ;  one  must  never  overdo  one*s  precau- 
tions and  fall  into  a  contrary  excess." 

"It  would  be  so  sorrowful  if  some  miserable  ad- 
venturer should  carry  this  beautiful  flower  away 
from  us." 

"  How  ?  carry  her  away  from  us  ? " 

"  I  should  say  carry  her  away  from  you ;  it  is 
only  by  favor  that  I  see  her.  She  is,  in  truth,  a 
jewel;  she  has  the  candor,  the  innocence  of  child- 
hood. Ah,  zounds !  how  happy  you  are,  Touquet, 
for  you  are  guarding  this  treasure  .for  yourself,  I'll 
wager." 

"For  myself?"  said  the  barber,  knitting  his 
brows  ;  then  he  was  silent  for  a  moment,  while 
Chaudoreille,  placed  before  a  little  mirror,  occupied 
himself  in  studying  some  smiles  and  glances  of  the 
eye.  "  I  have  already  told  you  that  I  do  not  like 
questions,"  responded  Touquet  at  last;  "  but  I  see 
that  you  will  be  incorrigible  until  your  shoulders 
have  felt  the  weight  of  my  arm." 

"  Always  joking.  You  are  really  a  most  ironical 
man." 

"  Come,  go  up  to  Blanche's  room ;  you  can  stay 
three-quarters  of  an  hour.  You  must  leave  by  the 
passageway ;  I  don't  wish  the  people  who  will  be 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       73 

here  to  see  you  come  from  the  interior  of  the 
house.  You  will  go  where  I  told  you,  and  you 
will  come  and  give  me  an  account  of  the  result  of 
your  enterprise." 

"  At  your  dinner  hour  ? " 

"  No,  this  evening,  at  dusk." 

"  As  you  please,  as  you  will.  Ah,  mon  Dieu ! 
I  am  thinking  how  I  can  go  up  to  my  young  pu- 
pil without  a  ruff." 

"  Will  that  prevent  you  from  singing  ? " 

"  No,  but  decency —  this  naked  neck.  Lend  me 
a  collar,  —  anything." 

"  Hang  it !  is  it  necessary  to  make  so  much  fuss? 
Do  you  think  that  Blanche  will  pay  much  attention 
to  your  face  ?  " 

"  My  face !  my  face  1  It  would  seem,  to  hear 
you,  that  I  am  an  Albino." 

"  Here's  somebody  coming ;  get  out." 

The  barber  pushed  Chaudoreille  into  the  pas- 
sage, whera  the  latter  remained  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  seeking  by  what  manner  he  could  hold  his 
cloak,  and  deciding  at  last  to  go  up  to  his  pupil. 


CHAPTER  V 

The  Music  Lesson 

Blanche  was  seated  at  work  near  her  window, 
the  small,  dim  panes  of  which  scarcely  permitted 
her  to  distinguish  anything  in  the  street. 

However,  from  time  to  time  she  glanced  down- 
ward in  that  direction  to  distract  her  thoughts ; 
not  that  she  was  at  all  sad,  or  that  she  had  any- 
thing to  trouble  her,  but  a  young  girl  who  is 
nearly  sixteen  years  of  age  experiences  in  the 
depths  of  her  innocent  heart  certain  void,  vague 
desires  which  she  cannot  easily  account  for.  She 
sighs,  she  becomes  dreamy ;  a  mere  nothing 
renders  her  uneasy ;  the  least  noise,  the  sound  of 
an  unknown  voice,  makes  her  heart  beat  more 
quickly ;  she  looks  oftener  in  the  mirror ;  she 
pays  more  attention  to  her  toilet,  though,  as  yet, 
there  is  nobody  in  particular  whom  she  wishes  to 
charm.  But  a  secret  instinct  implants  in  her  the 
desire  to  please,  a  sure  symptom  that  she  begins 
to  feel  the  need  of  loving ;  and,  for  that  reason, 
she  falls  into  reveries  and  sighs  without  knowing 
why  —  so  it  was,  at  least,  in  the  time  of  which  we 
are  speaking.  As  to  the  young  girls  of  our  own 
time,  they  dream,  also,  but  they  sigh  less. 

74 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       75 

The  character  of  the  barber,  the  cold,  serious 
manner  which  he  wore  before  Blanche,  did  not  in- 
vite confidence,  and  imposed  a  restraint  on  the 
young  girl,  whose  ingenuous  heart  seemed  to  seek 
a  friend.  She  respected  Touquet  and  obeyed  him ; 
she  regarded  him  as  her  benefactor,  but  she  could 
not  chat  freely  with  him,  for  the  barber's  laconic 
answers  always  appeared  to  indicate  little  desire  to 
engage  in  a  long  conversation.  To  make  up  for 
this.  Marguerite  was  very  chatty,  and  would  will- 
ingly have  passed  the  entire  day  in  gossip ;  but 
the  sole  subjects  of  her  conversation  were  sorcer- 
ers, magicians  and  robbers,  and  these  were  not  at 
all  amusing  to  Blanche,  who  preferred,  to  Mar- 
guerite's appalling  stories,  a  tender  love-song  or  a 
story  of  chivalry,  the  heroes  of  which  were  very 
strong  on  love;  and  one  of  that  ilk  had  no  less 
prowess  as  a  paladin  because  he  was  faithful  to  his 
lady  for  twenty  years. 

Blanche  was  dreaming,  then,  when  somebody 
rapped  softly  at  her  door ;  and  immediately  Chau- 
doreille's  odd  little  head  appeared  between  the 
door  and  the  wall,  and  he  said  in  mellifluous  ac- 
cents, — 

"  May  one  come  in,  interesting  scholar  ?  " 

Blanche  raised  her  eyes  and  burst  into  a  fit  of 
laughter  on  perceiving  Chaudoreille's  face,  this  be- 
ing the  effect  his  appearance  ordinarily  produced 
on  the  young  girl. 

**  Come  in,  come  in,  my  dear  master,"  said  she. 


76  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

rising  to  curtsey  to  Chaudoreille,  who  then  intro- 
duced himself  entirely  into  the  room,  bowing  to 
Blanche  three  times,  so  low  that  each  time  his 
sword  fell  before  him,  and  on  rising  he  was  obliged 
to  put  Rolande  into  his  scabbard  again. 

"  I  am  so  much  in  the  habit  of  drawing  him," 
said  Chaudoreille, "  that  he  can't  rest  quietly  in  his 
sheath  for  two  hours  at  a  time.  —  Come,  be  quiet, 
Rolande ;  you  know  well,  my  dear  companion, 
that  the  night  never  passes  without  my  giving  you 
some  occupation." 

"Why,  Monsieur  Chaudoreille,  do  you  fight 
every  day  ? " 

**  What  else  could  you  expect,  beautiful  angel  ? 
It  is  my  element ;  I  should  not  sleep  if  I  had  not 
drawn  my  sword,  and  I  should  fall  ill  if  three  days 
were  to  elapse  without  my  ridding  the  earth  of  an 
impertinent  fellow  or  a  rival." 

"  O  good  Heavens ! " 

**  But  let  us  leave  that  subject  and  speak  of  you, 
delightful  creature.  You  seem  to  me  fresher  and 
more  beautiful  than  ever ;  it  is  the  unfolding  of 
the  bud,  it  is  the  opening  of  the  flower,  it  is  the 
fruit  which  —  By  the  way,  how  are  you  ? " 

"  Very  well.  D.id  you  come  to  give  me  a  music 
lesson?" 

"  Yes,  if  you  will  permit  me  the  pleasure.  It  is 
a  long  time  since  I  had  that  happiness." 

"  I  hope  you're  going  to  teach  me  something 
new." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       77 

"  By  Jove !  I'm  not  at  the  end  of  my  tether. 
Besides,  were  new  songs  lacking,  your  beautiful 
eyes  would  inspire  me  to  improvise  a  ballad  in  six- 
teen couplets." 

Blanche  brought  her  sitar  and  handed  it  to 
Chaudoreille,  who  raised  his  eyes  to  Heaven  and 
heaved  a  big  sigh  as  he  took  it. 

"  Are  you  going  to  be  ill,  Monsieur  Chaudo- 
reille ? "  questioned  the  young  girl,  astonished  at 
this  moaning. 

"  No,  I  am  not  ill ;  however,  I  feel  rather  un- 
easy," answered  Chaudoreille,  venturing  to  try  the 
effect  of  the  glances  and  smiles  which  he  had 
studied  before  the  glass. 

"Y9U  seem  to  have  difficulty  in  breathing," 
responded  Blanche ;  "  perhaps  your  supper  last 
night  did  not  agree  with  you." 

"  Pardon  me  ;  I  swear  to  you  it  did  not  trouble 
me  in  the  least.  I  have  a  horror  of  indigestion. 
Out  upon  it !  I  never  put  myself  in  the  way  of 
having  it." 

"  Sing  to  me  the  air  you  are  going  to  teach  me ; 
that  will  make  you  feel  better." 

"  She  is  innocence  itself,"  said  Chaudoreille  to 
himself  while  tuning  the  sitar ;  "  she  doesn't  un- 
derstand what  makes  me  sigh.  Despite  that,  how- 
ever, I  can  see  that  she's  glad  to  see  me.  Patience  ; 
before  long  her  heart  will  awaken,  and  I  shall  be 
its  conqueror." 

Blanche  took  up  her  work  again  ;   Chaudoreille 


78  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

seated  himself  near  her,  and  after  a  quarter  of  an 
hour's  tuning  of  the  sitar,  coughed,  expectorated, 
blew  his  nose,  turned  around  on  his  chair,  ar- 
ranged his  cape,  pursed  his  mouth,  passed  his 
tongue  over  his  lips,  and  at  last  commenced  in  a 
shrill  voice,  which  pierced  the  ears,  an  ancient 
ditty  which  Blanche  had  heard  a  hundred  times 
before. 

"  I  know  that,  my  dear  master,"  said  she,  in- 
terrupting Chaudoreille  in  the  middle  of  a  point 
d'orgue,  which  he  seemed  willing  to  prolong 
indefinitely ;  "  that's  one  of  the  three  you  have 
already  taught  me." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  ** 

"Wait;  I'll  sing  it  for  you." 
•    Blanche  took  the  instrument,  and,  gracefully 
accompanying  herself,  sang,  in  a  melodious  voice 
which  gave  a  charm  to  the  old  ballad. 

"  That's  very  well,  indeed,"  said  Chaudoreille ; 
"  you  sing  the  passages  precisely  in  my  manner ; 
I  seem  to  hear  myself." 

**  Teach  me  another,  then,"  said  the  young  girl, 
returning  the  instrument  to  him ;  and  Chaudo- 
reille intoned  a  virelay  on  the  great  feats  of  Pepin 
the  Short. 

"  I  know  that,  too,"  said  Blanche,  stopping  him. 

"  In  that  case  I  will  sing  you  a  charming  villa- 
nelle." 

"  Mercy !  that  will  be  the  third  of  those  you 
have  taught  me.     Don't  you  know  any  others  ?  ** 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       79 

"  Pardon  me,  but  as  a  cursed  dog  ran  off  with 
my  rufF  while  I  was  being  shaved,  I  cannot  ven- 
ture a  new  song  while  my  throat  is  naked;  it 
would  embarrass  the  middle  notes.  Nevertheless, 
the  villanelle  is  always  a  novelty,  since  I  ever  sing 
it  with  variations." 

"  Well,  I'll  listen,"  said  Blanche,  glancing  to- 
wards the  street.  Chaudoreille  heaved  another 
sigh,  and  when  he  had  taken  a  position  which 
seemed  to  him  more  favorable  for  displaying  his 
graces,  he  commenced  the  villanelle,  which  he 
sang  to  Blanche  every  time  that  he  gave  her  a 

lesson:  — 

I  have  lost  my  turtle-dove, 

And  her  flight  I  must  pursue,  — 
Is  she  not  the  one  I  love  ? 

You  regret  your  own  fond  dove. 

As  the  loss  of  mine  I  rue  ; 
I  have  lost  my  turtle-dove. 

At  this  moment  some  perambulating  singers 
came  into  the  street.  They  stationed  themselves 
in  front  of  the  barber's  house  and,  accompanying 
themselves  on  their  mandolins,  sang  some  Italian 
songs.  Blanche  listened  eagerly ;  this  music,  so 
different  from  that  which  she  heard  from  her  mas- 
ter of  the  sitar,  stirred  her  pulses  deliciously,  and 
approaching  the  window  she  cried,  — 

"  Oh,  how  pretty  that  is  !  " 

"Yes,  undoubtedly  it's  pretty,"  said  Chaudo- 
reille, who  believed  the  young  girl  to  be  speaking 


8o  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

of  the  villanelle ;  "  but  it's  necessary  to  acquire 
the  same  expression  that  I  have  given  it.  Notice 
it  well,  *  I  have  lost  my  turtle-dove/  —  the  ac- 
cent tremulous  with  grief;  raise  the  eyes  to  the 
ceiling,  beat  time  with  the  left  foot.  *  And  her 
flight  I  must  pursue,*  —  a  distracted  air,  and  al- 
ways the  same  accompaniment  with  the  thumb 
and  index  finger.  *  Is  she  not  the  one  I  love? ' — 
a  soft,  flute-like  sound,  and  make  a  movement  of 
surprise  while  sustaining  the  falsetto.  *  You  regret 
your  own  fond  dove,  — '  that  demands  much  ex- 
pression. *  You  regret,' — an  exquisitely  performed 
shake, — 'your  own  fond  dove,' — inflate  the  sound 
and  ascend  still." 

"  Ah,  I  should  be  contented  if  I  could  only  hear 
such  music  often,"  said  Blanche,  who  had  paid  no 
attention  to  what  Chaudoreille  was  saying,  and  had 
listened  only  to  the  Italians. 

"  I  should  much  like  to  give  you  a  lesson  every 
day,  lovely  damsel ;  but  my  occupations  overwhelm 
me —  and  then.  Master  Touquet  does  not  often 
permit  me  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you ;  when  far 
from  you  I  sing  without  ceasing,  — 

You  regret  your  own  fond  dove." 

"  It's  a  barcarolle  —  is  it  not,  monsieur  ? " 
"  No,  my  dear  girl ;  that's  called  a  villanelle, 
the  favorite  song  of  our  ancient  troubadours,  and 
of  shepherds  who  bemoaned  their  shepherdesses." 
"  What  a  pity  that  I  don't  know  Italian  1 " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        8i 

"What  do  you  require  Italian  for, —  in  order 

to  say, 

Is  she  not  the  one  I  love  ?  " 

"  Be  quiet,  be  quiet ;  they're  singing  in  French 
now,"  said  Blanche,  pressing  close  to  the  window- 
panes,  and  signing  with  her  hand  to  Chaudoreillc 
not  to  stir. 

"What's  that  you're  saying?"  cried  the  sitar 
master,  rising  in  surprise, — "  for  me  to  be  quiet ! 
Does  that  noise  out  there  disturb  you  too  much  ? 
To  the  devil  with  the  street  singers  who  prevent 
you  from  hearing  me !  I  hardly  know  how  to 
restrain  myself  from  going  to  drive  them  away 
with  a  few  blows  from  my  good  blade  Rolande  !  " 

"  If  I  only  dared  open  my  window  for  a  few 
moments,"  sighed  Blanche.  "  But  no,  I  must 
not,  for  M.  Touquet  has  firmly  forbidden  me  to 
do  so.  What  a  pretty,  pretty  air  1  Ah,  I  shall 
easily  remember  that, 

I  love  to  eternity 

My  darling  is  all  to  me  ; 

that's  the  refrain." 

"  No,  divine  Blanche,  you  are  mistaken  ;  these 
are  the  words, — 

I  have  lost  my  tvirtle-dove, 

And  her  flight  I  must  pursue,  — 
Is  she  not  the  one  I  love  ? "  i 

The  singers  departed.  Blanche  then  left  the 
casement,  and,  on  turning,  saw  Chaudoreillc  with 

Vol.  VII 


82  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

his  neck  elongated,  the  better  to  execute  a  note. 
She  could  not  restrain  a  desire  to  laugh,  which  was 
evoked  by  the  face  of  the  chevalier ;  and  the  lat- 
ter remained  with  his  mouth  open,  not  knowing 
how  to  take  the  young  girl's  laughter,  when  Mar- 
guerite entered  the  room. 

"  It's  burned  at  last,"  said  the  old  woman  as 
she  came  in. 

"  What  is  burned,"  cried  Chaudoreille,  —  "the 
roast  ? " 

"  Ah,  yes,  indeed ;  it's  a  book  of  witchcraft,  of 
magic.  It  was  very  hard  to  get  it  to  burn,  those 
books  are  so  accustdmed  to  fire." 

"  What  is  that  you  say.  Marguerite  ?  You  have 
books  of  magic,  —  you  who  are  afraid  of  every- 
thing ?  Do  you  wish  to  enter  into  communication 
with  the  spirits  of  the  other  world  ?  " 

"Ah,  God  keep  me  from  it.  Monsieur  Chau- 
doreille. But  I'll  tell  you  how  that  book  came  into 
my  hands,  where  it  didn't  stay  long,  for  it  seemed 
to  me  that  that  cursed  conjuring-book  burned  my 
fingers.  My  master  wished  me  to  change  my  room 
— because — but  I  oughtn't  to  tell  you  that." 

"Try  to  remember  what  you  wished  to  tell 
me." 

"  Well,  it  seems  I  must  quit  the  room  I've  oc- 
cupied, to  go  into  one  in  which  no  one  has  set  foot 
during  the  eight  years  I  have  been  in  the  house ; 
and,  to  judge  by  the  look  of  it,  no  one  had  visited 
it  for  a  long  time  before.    It's  so  dark,  so  dismal ; 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         83 

the  window-panes,  which  are  two  inches  thick  with 
dust,  hardly  allow  the  daylight  to  penetrate  into 
the  room." 

"  I  had  an  idea  —  God  forgive  me  —  that  she 
was  going  to  recount  to  me  all  the  spiders'  webs 
she  had  found  there.  What  do  you  think,  of  it, 
my  charming  pupil  ?  " 

Blanche  did  not  answer,  for  she  had  paid  no 
attention  to  what  Marguerite  said ;  she  was  com- 
mitting to  memory  the  sweet  refrain  which  had  ap- 
peared so  pretty  to  her,  and  was  repeating  in  a 
low  voice,  — 

**  I  love  to  eternity  ;  " 

and  Chaudoreille,  seeing  her  steeped  in  reverie, 
would  not  disturb  her,  fully  persuaded  that  the 
young  girl  could  not  defend  her  heart  against  the 
charms  of  the  villanelle. 

"  It's  not  a  question  of  spiders,"  resumed  the 
old  servant,  rather  ill-humoredly ;  "  if  I  had  not 
seen  that  which  —  but  at  the  bottom  of  a  closet 
Mademoiselle  Blanche  found  a  diabolical  book; 
it  was  the  conjuring-book  of  a  sorcerer  named 
Odoard.  Have  you  ever  heard  tell  of  a  sorcerer 
by  that  name  ?  " 

"  No,  not  that  I  remember.  If  you  were  to  ask 
me  about  a  brave  man,  a  man  of  spirit,  a  rake  of 
honor,  most  certainly  I  should  have  known  him  ; 
but  a  sorcerer !  What  the  devil  do  you  think  I 
should  have  to  do  with  him  ?  These  people  don't 
fight." 


84  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Monsieur  Chaudoreille,  —  you  who  are  so 
brave,  —  you  must  render  me  a  service." 

"  What  is  it  ? "  inquired  Chaudoreille,  paying 
more  attention  to  Marguerite's  words. 

"  Just  now,  after  having  burned  the  conjuring- 
book  of  that  Odoard,  surnamed  the  great  Tier  of 
Tags,  I  made  another  inspection  of  my  room, 
sprinkling  holy  water  everywhere,  as  you  may  well 
suppose." 

"  And  what  followed  ?  " 

"  At  the  end  of  the  alcove  I  perceived  a  little 
door,  —  one  would  never  have  supposed  there  was 
a  door  there ;  but,  though  old,  I  have  good  eyes, 
and,  while  pushing  the  bed,  which  made  the  wain- 
scot creak,  I  saw  the  door." 

"  To  the  point,  I  beg  of  you,"  resumed  Chau- 
doreille, whose  eyes  betrayed  the  uneasiness  he 
tried  in  vain  to  dissemble. 

"Well,  now,  I  confess  to  you,  monsieur,  that  I 
didn't  dare  open  that  door.  It  was  no  doubt  the 
door  of  a  closet ;  but  that  alcove  is  so  gloomy,  so 
dark.  Finally,  I'll  be  very  much  obliged  if  you'll 
come  up  with  me  and  go  first  into  whatever  place 
we  find  there.  I  daren't  ask  M.  Touquet,  for  he'd 
scoff  at  me." 

"  And  he  would  be  right,  by  jingo  !  Why,  Mar- 
guerite, at  your  age,  not  to  have  more  courage  than 
that ! " 

"What  can  you  expect?  I'm  afraid  there  may 
be  a  goblin  in  that  closet,  who  will  jump  in  my 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        85 

face  when  I  open  the  door,  which  has  perhaps 
been  closed  for  many  years ;  for  I've  never  seen 
M.  Touquet  enter  the  room." 

"  Don't  goblins  pass  through  keyholes  ?  Come, 
Marguerite,  I  blush  for  your  cowardice." 

"  No  one  can  say  that  sorcerers  are  rare  in  Paris. 
Haven't  they  established  a  Chamber  at  the  Arse- 
nal expressly  to  judge  them  ?  " 

"  That's  true,  I  confess ;  but  I  don't  sec  what 
makes  you  imagine  there  are  any  in  this  house  .'* " 

"Ah,  Monsieur  Chaudoreille,  if  I  was  to  tell 
you  all  I  have  seen  and  heard  —  and  at  night  the 
noises  which  —  " 

"  What  have  you  seen,  dear  nurse  ? "  inquired 
Blanche,  whose  reverie  had  flown,  and  who  had 
heard  the  last  words  of  the  old  woman. 

"  Nothing — nothing — mademoiselle;"  and  the 
old  servant  added,  addressing  the  chevalier  in  a  low 
tone,  "  My  master  doesn't  like  me  to  talk  of  it, 
and  he'll  send  me  away  if  he  learns  —  " 

"  That's  enough  ;  I  don't  wish  to  hear  anything 
further,"  said  Chaudoreille,  rising  and  taking  his 
hat.  "And  since  Touquet  has  forbidden  you  to 
tell  these  idle  stories,  I  beg  you  not  to  deafen  my 
ears  with  them." 

"  But  you'll  come  upstairs  with  me  and  look  in 
the  closet  —  won't  you,  monsieur?" 

"  Ah,  mon  Dieu  !  I  hear  ten  o'clock  striking ; 
I  should  be  in  the  city  now ;  I  didn't  receive  ten 
crowns  for  listening  to  your  old  stories ;  I  must 


86  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

run.  Au  revoir,  my  interesting  pupil.  I  am  de- 
lighted that  my  last  variations  gave  you  pleasure. 
I  hope  before  long  to  give  you  another  lesson. 
With  a  master  like  me,  you  should  be  a  virtuoso.** 
While  saying  these  words  Chaudoreille  drew 
himself  up,  placed  his  left  hand  on  his  hip, 
arranged  his  right  arm  as  though  he  were  about 
to  take  his  weapon ;  but,  instead  of  drawing  Ro- 
lande  from  the  scabbard,  he  carried  his  hand  to 
his  hat  and  bowed  respectfully  to  Blanche ;  then, 
passing  quickly  by  Marguerite,  who  tried  vainly 
to  restrain  him,  he  opened  the  door  and  went 
downstairs  humming, — 

You  regret  your  own  fond  dove. 
As  the  loss  of  mine  I  rue. 


CHAPTER   VI 

The  Lovers.     The  Gossips 

The  barber  Touquet's  shop  was  as  usual  filled 
with  a  motley  crowd  of  people  of  all  classes. 
There  were  gathered  students,  shopkeepers,  pages, 
poets,  bachelors,  adventurers,  and  even  young 
noblemen ;  for  the  fashion  of  the  time  permitted 
these  amiable  libertines  to  mingle  sometimes  with 
persons  in  the  lower  classes  of  society,  whether 
they  sought  new  sensations  in  listening  to  a  lan- 
guage which  for  them  had  all  the  fascinating  charm 
of  novelty,  or  whether  it  was  for  the  purpose  of 
playing  tricks  on  the  persons  with  whom  they 
thus  mixed. 

Master  Touquet's  shop  was  large,  and  more- 
over furnished  with  benches,  which  latter  conve- 
niences were  an  almost  unheard-of  luxury  in  a 
time  when  people  took  their  diversions  standing, 
and  when  no  one  was  seated  even  at  the  play. 
The  barber  by  this  means  extended  his  custom ; 
he  attended  to  everything,  answered  everybody, 
and  did  more  himself  than  ttn  hairdressers  of 
today.  His  hand,  which  was  skilful,  nimble  and 
accurate  with  scissors  or  razor,  had  earned  him  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best  barbers  in 

87 


88  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Paris,  and  drew  to  his  shop  many  fops,  because 
in  the  middle  class  one  held  it  an  honor  to  be  able 
to  say,  while  caressing  one's  chin,  "  I've  been 
shaved  by  Touquet."  But  those  whom  he  had 
served  sometimes  remained  for  a  long  time  in  con- 
versation with  the  persons  who  were  awaiting  their 
turn,  the  greater  part  of  these  idlers  desiring  to 
chat  for  a  moment  on  the  news  of  the  day  and  the 
adventures  of  the  night.  Towards  ten  o'clock,  in 
the  morning  there  was  always  a  numerous  gather- 
ing at  Master  Touquet's  shop. 

There  one  saw  all  kinds  of  toilets ;  but  then,  as 
today,  rich  garments  did  not  always  betoken  rank 
or  fortune  in  those  who  wore  them.  The  taste  for 
luxury  was  becoming  general,  because  considera- 
tion was  accorded  only  to  those  who  had  splendid 
equipages  and  magnificent  clothing.  An  appear- 
ance of  wealth  and  power  obtained  all  the  honors ; 
true  merit  without  distinction,  without  renown,  re- 
mained forgotten  and  in  poverty.  And  one  assur- 
edly sees  the  same  thing  today. 

Access  to  court  was  easy.  For  a  parvenu  to 
Introduce  himself  there,  often  nothing  more  was 
necessary  than  a  costume  similar  to  those  worn  by 
courtiers,  —  the  hat  adorned  by  a  feather,  a  doub- 
let and  mantle  of  satin  or  velvet,  the  sword  at  the 
belt,  the  whole  enlivened  by  trimmings  of  gold  or 
silver  braid.  Each  sought  to  procure  for  himself 
the  most  splendid  personal  appearance,  and  many 
ruined  themselves  in  order  to  appear  wealthy. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        89 

An  attempt  was,  however,  made  to  arrest  this 
tendency  to  luxurious  habits,  which  could  not  hide 
the  poverty  of  the  time.  By  an  edict  of  the  month 
of  November  of  the  year  1633,  ^^  ^^^  forbidden 
to  all  subjects  to  wear  on  their  shirts,  cuffs,  head- 
dresses, or  on  other  linen,  all  openwork,  embroi- 
deries of  gold  or  silver  thread,  braids,  laces  or  cut 
points,  manufactured  either  within  or  without  the 
realm. 

In  the  following  year  a  second  edict  appeared, 
which  prohibited  the  employment,  in  habiliments, 
of  any  kind  of  cloth  of  gold  or  silver,  real  or  imita- 
tion, and  decreed  that  the  richest  garments  should 
be  of  velvet,  satin  or  taffetas,  without  other  orna- 
ment than  two  bands  of  silk  embroidery ;  it 
also  forbade  that  the  liveries  of  pages,  lackeys  and 
coachmen  should  be  made  of  any  other  than 
woollen  stuffs.  But  these  laws  were  soon  infringed; 
men  will  always  have  the  desire  to  appear  more 
than  they  are,  and  women  to  hide  what  they  are. 

Among  the  different  personages  assembled  in 
the  barber's  shop  there  was  one  who  chatted  with 
nobody  and  seemed  to  take  not  the  slightest  in- 
terest in  the  relation  of  the  scandalous  adventures 
of  the  night.  This  was  a  young  man  who  appeared 
about  nineteen  years  of  age  or  a  little  over,  en- 
dowed with  a  physiognomy  by  no  means  cheerful ; 
for  one  ordinarily  applies  that  term  to  those  round, 
fresh  faces,  red  and  plump,  which  breathe  health 
and  gayety.    He  had  beautiful  eyes,  but  was  pale; 


90  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

noble  features,  but  rather  a  melancholy  expression ; 
finally,  he  had  what  one  calls  an  interesting  face, 
and  this  sort  are  in  general  more  fortunate  in  love 
than  those  of  cheerful  physiognomy.  The  young 
man's  costume  was  very  simple ;  neither  ornament 
nor  embroidery  adorned  his  gray  coat,  buttoned  just 
to  the  knee  and  cut  like  our  frock  coat  of  today ; 
his  belt  was  black ;  no  ribbons  floated  from  his 
knees  and  his  arms ;  he  neither  had  a  sword  nor 
laces,  nor  plumes  on  the  broad  brim  of  his  hat. 

He  had  been  for  a  very  long  time  in  the  barber's 
shop.  On  entering,  his  eyes  had  appeared  to  search 
for  something  other  than  the  master  of  the  place ; 
he  had  thrown  glances  towards  the  back  shop,  and 
still  continued  to  do  so.  Several  times  already  his 
turn  had  come  and  Touquet  had  said  to  him,  — 

"  Whenever  you  wish,  seigneur  bachelor." 

The  young  man's  simple  costume  was,  in  fact, 
that  which  was  ordinarily  worn  by  law  students  in 
Paris;  but  to  each  invitation  of  the  barber  the 
bachelor  only  answered,  "  I  am  not  pressed  for 
time,"  and  another  took  his  place. 

After  a  time  the  loiterers  and  gossips  departed 
and  the  young  man  found  himself  alone  with  Tou- 
quet, to  whom  his  conduct  began  to  appear  sin- 
gular. 

"  Now  you  can  no  longer  yield  your  turn  to 
anybody,"  said  the  barber,  offering  a  chair  to  the 
stranger.  **  In  truth  I  cannot  shave  you;  you  have 
not  enough  on  your  chin ;  but  without  doubt  you 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         91 

came  for  something,  and  I  am  at  your  service,  mon- 
sieur." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  young  man  with  an  embarrassed 
air,  turning  his  eyes  towards  the  back  shop,  "  I 
should  like  —  my  hair  is  too  long,  and  —  " 

**  Seat  yourself  here,  seigneur  bachelor ;  you 
will  find  that  I  am  skilful ;  my  hand  is  as  well  ac- 
customed to  the  scissors  as  to  the  razor." 

The  young  man  decided  at  last  to  intrust  his 
head  to  the  barber,  but  as  soon  as  the  latter  paused 
for  a  moment  he  profited  by  it  to  turn  and  look 
into  the  back  shop. 

"Are  you  looking  for  anything,  monsieur?" 
said  Touquet,  whom  this  trick  did  not  escape. 

"  No  —  no.  I  was  only  looking  to  see  if  you 
were  alone  here." 

"Yes,  monsieur;  you  see  I  have  no  need  of  any- 
body to  help  me  in  order  to  satisfy  my  customers." 

"Indeed,  someone  told  me  you  were  extremely 
skilful." 

"  And  monsieur  has  had  time  to  judge  of  my 
talent,  he  has  been  nearly  two  hours  in  my  shop." 

"  I  had  nothing  pressing  to  do ;  and  then,  I 
wished  to  obtain  some  information  of  you.  Tell 
me,  my  friend,  who  occupies  the  first  story  of  this 
house." 

"  I  do,  monsieur,"  said  Touquet,  after  a  mo- 
ment's hesitation. 

The  young  man  seemed  vexed  then  that  he  had 
asked  the  question. 


92  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  May  I  learn,  monsieur,  how  that  interests 
you  ?  "  resumed  Touquet,  looking  at  the  unknown 
attentively. 

"Ah,  it  is  that  I  am  looking  for  a  lodging — in 
this  quarter.  One  chamber  would  suffice  me.  Do 
you  not  take  lodgers,  and  could  you  give  me  a 
room  if  this  house  belongs  to  you  ?  ** 

"  This  house  does  belong  to  me ;  in  fact,  mon- 
sieur, I  cannot  grant  your  request.  For  a  long  time 
I  have  let  no  lodgings,  and  I  have  no  room  in  the 
house,  which  is  not  very  large." 

"  What !  you  cannot  let  me  a  single  chamber,  a 
closet  even  ?  I  repeat  to  you,  I  wish  to  have  one 
in  this  neighborhood  ;  I  often  have  business  in  the 
Louvre.    I  will  pay  you  anything  that  you  ask." 

"  Anything  ?  "  said  the  barber,  glancing  ironi- 
cally at  the  young  man's  simple  garments.  "  You 
are  getting  on,  perhaps,  a  little,  monsieur  student. 
All  the  same,  your  desires  cannot  be  gratified,  and 
I  advise  you  to  renounce  your  plans." 

Touquet  dwelt  on  this  last  phrase,  and  the 
young  man's  face  reddened  a  little ;  but  the  barber 
had  finished  his  ministrations,  and  the  former  had 
no  way  of  prolonging  his  stay  with  a  man  who  did 
not  appear  to  wish  to  continue  the  conversation, 
and  to  whom  he  feared  he  had  said  too  much.  The 
bachelor  rose,  paid,  and  at  last  left  the  shop,  but 
not  without  looking  up  at  the  windows  of  the 
house. 

"  That's  a  lover,"  said  Touquet,  as  soon  as  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         92 

young  man  had  taken  his  departure.  "Yes,  his 
uneasiness,  his  looks,  his  questions  —  oh,  I  un- 
derstand it  all.  I  have  served  too  many  lovers 
ever  to  be  deceived  about  that.  Curse  it !  this  is 
just  what  I  feared.  What  vexations  I  foresee ! 
What  anxieties  are  about  to  assail  me !  He  must 
have  seen  Blanche,  but  where  ?  when  ?  how  ?  She 
never  leaves  the  house  without  me,  and  that  very 
rarely ;  however,  this  young  man  is  in  love  with 
her,  I'll  bet  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  Halloo 
there,  Marguerite  !    Marguerite  !  " 

The  old  servant  had  heard  her  master's  loud 
voice ;  she  mentally  invoked  her  patron  saint  and 
went  down  to  the  shop. 

"  How  long  is  it  since  Blanche  went  out  with- 
out my  knowing  it  ?  "  said  the  barber  suddenly. 

"Went  out?  Mademoiselle  Blanche?"  said 
Marguerite,  looking  at  her  master  in  surprise. 

"  Yes,  —  went  out  with  you.  Why  don't  you 
answer  ? " 

"  Blessed  Holy  Virgin  !  that  hasn't  happened 
for  two  years ;  then  Mademoiselle  Blanche  was 
still  a  child,  and  you  sometimes  allowed  her  to  go 
with  me  to  take  a  turn  in  the  big  Pre-aux-Clercs. 
But  since  that  time  the  poor  little  thing  has  not 
been  out,  I  believe,  except  twice  with  you,  and 
that  was  at  night,  and  Mademoiselle  Blanche  had 
a  very  thick  veil." 

"  I  didn't  ask  you  if  she  had  been  out  with 
me.    And  has  any  young  man  been  here  in  my 


94  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

absence  who  has  asked  you  about  her,  or  who 
has  sought  to  be  introduced  to  her  ? " 

"  Indeed,  I  would  have  given  him  a  warm  re- 
ception. Monsieur  doesn't  know  me.  Except  the 
Chevalier  Chaudoreille,  mademoiselle  has  seen  no 
one ;  as  to  the  latter,  he  came  this  morning  to  give 
her  a  music  lesson." 

"  Oh,  Chaudoreille  isn*t  dangerous;  but  if  some 
student,  some  young  page,  should  come  in  my  ab- 
sence and  seek  to  see  Blanche,  remember  to  send 
such  heedless  fellows  away  promptly." 

"Yes,  monsieur,  yes.  Oh,  you  may  be  easy. 
Besides,  hasn't  the  beautiful  child  always  about  her 
a  precious  talisman  which  will  preserve  her  from 
all  danger  ?  I  defy  ten  gallants  to  turn  her  head 
so  long  as  she  carries  it,  and  I  will  see  that  she 
does  not  leave  it  off." 

"Watch,  rather,  that  she  does  not  open  her 
window ;  that  will  be  better.  If  that  should  hap- 
pen, I  should  be  obliged  to  give  her  the  little  room 
which  opens  on  the  court." 

**  Ah,  monsieur.  Mademoiselle  Blanche  would 
die  there  of  weariness ;  there  one  can  barely  see 
the  light,  and  the  poor  little  thing  does  not  go 
out,  and  could  only  work  during  the  daytime  with 
a  candle." 

"  Unless  she  opens  her  window,  it  will  be  a  long 
time  before  she  occupies  it,"  said  Touquet  in  a 
low  voice,  making  a  sign  to  the  servant  to  leave 
him,  which  the  latter  did,  saying,  — 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         95 

"  What  a  misfortune  not  to  have  faith  in  talis- 
mans 1  If  monsieur  believed  in  them,  he  would 
not  deprive  that  poor  little  thing  of  every  amuse- 
ment." 

The  barber  had  not  been  mistaken  in  judging 
that  the  young  man,  who  had  had  so  much  diffi- 
culty in  tearing  himself  away  from  the  shop,  was 
a  lover. 

The  Italian's  song  had  so  captivated  Blanche's 
ears  that  the  young  girl  had  stood  close  to  her 
casement,  and  had  not  budged  from  it  during  the 
time  that  her  music  master  had  made  his  vari- 
ations on  the  villanelle.  At  the  same  moment 
Urbain  was  passing,  and  he  had  stopped  to  listen 
to  the  music,  and  while  listening  his  glance  was 
carried  to  Blanche's  window.  At  first  he  had  seen 
nothing  but  some  very  small  panes ;  but  at  last, 
through  these  panes,  his  eyes  could  distinguish 
a  face  so  pretty,  eyes  so  blue  and  so  full  of  the 
pleasure  that  Blanche  was  experiencing,  that  the 
young  man  had  remained  motionless,  his  looks 
fixed  upon  that  window,  near  which  the  charming 
apparition  remained.  When  the  music  ceased  the 
pretty  face  disappeared,  and  the  young  man  had 
said  to  himself,  — 

"  I  was  not  in  error  ;  there  is  an  angel,  a  divin- 
ity, in  that  house." 

And  as  that  angel,  that  divinity,  lived  in  the 
modest  house  of  a  barber,  the  bachelor  had  be- 
lieved he  should  penetrate  into  the  third  heaven 


96  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

in  entering  Master  Touquet's  shop  ;  but  he  re- 
turned to  ideas  more  terrestrial  on  seeing  nothing 
but  men  who  had  come  to  be  shaved,  who  had 
about  them  nothing  divine,  despite  all  the  es- 
sences with  which  their  chins  were  besmeared. 
Urbain  had  glanced  towards  the  back  shop,  hop- 
ing to  perceive  the  pretty  figure  of  the  first  floor, 
and  had  prolonged  as  much  as  possible  his  stay  in 
the  barber's  shop.  We  have  witnessed  the  result 
of  his  conversation  with  the  barber. 

The  young  man  departed,  very  much  out  of 
sorts ;  he  perceived  that  he  had  made  a  blunder 
in  questioning  the  barber,  who  was  probably  his 
adored  one's  father;  for  the  young  men  of  that 
time  were  inflamed  with  love  as  quickly  as  those 
of  today.  He  felt  that  before  going  into  the  shop 
he  should  have  obtained  some  information  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  he  decided  to  finish  as  he 
should  have  begun.  In  all  times  the  bakers  have 
had  very  correct  ideas  about  their  neighbors,  be- 
cause the  neighbors  are  all  obliged  to  go  or  to  send 
to  the  baker's.  Urbain  went  into  a  shop  at  a  little 
distance,  and  while  paying  for  some  rolls  entered 
into  conversation  with  the  woman  who  was  behind 
the  counter,  —  a  conversation  in  which  all  the  ser- 
vants who  arrived  at  that  moment  took  part. 
"  Do  you  know  a  barber  in  this  street  ? " 
"A  barber?  Yes,  my  good  monsieur;  down 
there  at  the  corner  of  the  Rue  Saint-Honore, — 
Master  Touquet.    Has  monsieur  some  business 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        97 

with  him  ?  Oh,  he's  a  very  skilful  man  at  his  trade, 
and  has  made  lots  of  money,  by  shaving  beards, 
or  in  some  other  way.  What  that  is  I  won't  pre- 
tend to  tell  you.  That's  so  —  isn't  it,  Madame 
Ledoux  ? " 

"It  is  true,"  said  Madame  Ledoux,  resting  a 
basket  of  vegetables  on  the  counter,  "  that  Tou- 
quet  has  not  always  enjoyed  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion. I  have  lived  in  the  neighborhood  for  eight 
years  and,  thank  God,  I  know  everything  that  has 
passed  here,  —  all  that  everybody  has  done  here, 
and  all  that  everybody  is  still  doing;  and  that 
reminds  me  that  yesterday  evening  I  saw  Madame 
Grippart  come  home  at  ten  o'clock  with  a  young 
man,  who  left  her  in  front  of  the  grocer's  shop 
after  having  held  her  hand  in  his  for  more  than 
two  hours,  while  that  poor  Grippart  was  peace- 
fully slumbering,  for  he  goes  to  bed  at  nine  o'clock. 
That  doesn't  trouble  him ;  he  well  deserves  it, 
for  he  went  about  everywhere  saying  that  his  wife 
had  a  strong  breath,  and  those  things  need  not  be 
said.  —  But  to  return  to  Master  Touquet.  Oh, 
that's  a  sly  blade,  a  crafty,  cunning  fellow.  I've 
known  him  since  he  settled  in  this  street;  he's 
been  here  nearly  fifteen  years.  He  rented  the 
house  which  belonged  to  M.  Richard.  You  know, 
my  neighbor,  the  old  cloth  merchant  f  " 

"  The  one  whose  wife  had  two  fat,  plump  twins 
seven  months  after  they  were  married  ?  ** 

"  Who  didn't  look  at  all  like  their  fether.    It's 

Vol.  VII  — 


98  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

the  same.  Well,  this  Touquet  was  then  barber, 
bathkeeper  and  lodging-house  keeper,  and  report 
says  that  beside  that  he  helped  young  men  of  fam- 
ily in  their  love  affairs.  He  then  kept  two  shop- 
men, and  should  have  made  money  ;  however,  he 
was  for  a  long  time  miserably  poor,  since  his  shop- 
men left  him  because  he  did  not  pay  them.  Every- 
one was  very  much  astonished  ten  years  ago  when 
Touquet  kept  with  him,  and  began  to  educate  as 
his  own  child,  the  daughter  of  a  man  whom  he 
did  not  know,  who  had  come  to  lodge  with  him 
by  chance,  and  who  was  killed  the  same  night  in 
a  fight  between  some  worthless  fellows  and  the 
ofHcers  of  the  watch.  The  poor  man  !  they  found 
his  corpse  down  there,  —  Rue  Saint-Honore,  be- 
fore the  draper's  shop.  Do  you  remember  it,  Ma- 
dame Legras  ? " 

Madame  Legras,  who  had  just  come  into  the 
baker's  shop,  began  by  throwing  herself  on  a  chair 
and  crying, — 

"  Good-day,  ladies  !  Good  Heavens !  how  dear 
the  fish  is  today,  nobody  can  look  at  it." 

And  Urbain  sighed,  saying,  "  The  fish  will  take 
us  away  from  the  barber  "  ;  but  to  advance  in  love 
one  must  often  have  patience,  and  in  the  midst  of 
all  this  gossip  that  which  concerned  Touquet  was 
precious  to  the  young  bachelor. 

"  I  wished  to  have  an  eel  to  feast  my  husband, 
but  it  was  impossible." 

"  Is  it  his  bu-thday  ? " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        99 

**  No ;  but  he  took  me  yesterday  for  a  walk 
around  the  Bastile,  and  one  compliment  brings  on 
another.  I  can  say  with  pride  that  there  are  few 
households  so  united  as  ours.  During  the  four 
years  that  I  have  been  married  to  my  second  hus- 
band, M.  Legras,  we  have  quarrelled  only  five 
times ;  but  that  was  always  for  some  trifling  cause. 
What  were  you  talking  about,  ladies  ?  " 

"  Of  our  neighbor  Touquet,  about  whom  this 
gentleman  desired  some  information." 

"  Touquet  the  barber  ?  My  word,  ladies,  you 
may  say  whatever  you  will,  but  I  don't  like  that 
man." 

"He's  a  very  handsome  man,  however." 

"  Yes,  of  the  same  height  as  M.  Legras ;  but 
there  is  something  hard  and  false  and  stern  in  his 
appearance." 

"Yes,  for  some  time  past;  formerly  he  was 
gayer,  more  open.  Now  monsieur  never  chats ; 
he  has  grown  proud." 

**  That's  not  surprising ;  he  has  made  money." 
I     "  Yes,  by  shaving  beards  perhaps." 

"  It's  a  good  deal  more  likely  he  has  made  it 
by  assisting  the  love  affairs  of  some  great  noble- 
man, in  procuring  and  abducting  some  beauty." 

"  Come,  ladies,  don't  be  so  malicious.  As  for 
me,  you  know  I  haven't  a  bad  tongue.  Touquet 
is  very  skilful  at  his  trade.  I  know  very  well  that 
in  order  to  buy  and  pay  for  that  house  where  he 
now  is  he  must  have  shaved  a  good  many  faces ; 


lOO         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

but  they  say  now  the  barber  is  very  steady  and 
economical." 

"  When  the  devil  is  old  —  '* 

"Touquet  is  not  old;  he's  hardly  over  forty 
years." 

"  Adopting  that  little  girl  should  have  brought 
him  good  luck." 

"  That's  what  I  was  telling  monsieur.  Poor  lit- 
tle thing !  Nobody  knows  anything  about  her, 
except  that  she  had  a  father." 

"  Well,  neighbor,  somebody  found  a  letter  on 
him  having  for  an  address,  *To  Monsieur  Moran- 
val,  gentleman.* " 

**  Ah,  he  was  a  gentleman  ? " 

**  Yes,  my  dear.  Oh,  I  remember  all  that  as  if 
it  were  yesterday." 

"  How  fortunate  one  is  in  having  such  a  mem- 
ory !    And  what  did  the  letter  say  ? " 

"It  seemed  that  there  were  only  a  few  lines 
of  which  nobody  could  make  much  of  anything ; 
someone  recommended  to  this  Moranval  to  take 
great  precautions  in  the  business  which  brought 
him  to  Paris.  But  what  business  ?  Nobody  knows 
anything  about  it." 

"  Did  they  find  nothing  else  on  him  ? " 

"  No ;  there  is  little  doubt  that  the  poor  man 
was  robbed  after  being  murdered." 

"  Did  they  go  to  Touquet's  to  inquire  what 
he  knew  about  it  ?  " 

"  Touquet  answered  the  officers  of  justice  that 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      loi 

the  man  had  come  down  to  his  house  the  evening 
before,  and  had  introduced  himself  as  a  gentleman 
who  was  about  to  remain  for  some  time  in  Paris ; 
that  he  had  first  asked  him  to  put  his  little  girl  to 
bed,  and  that  later  he  had  gone  out,  saying  he 
should  be  absent  for  an  hour  or  so.  Touquet 
had  waited  up  for  him  a  great  part  of  the  night, 
and  it  was  not  till  the  next  day  that  he  learned 
from  public  rumor  that  a  man  had  been  found 
murdered  in  the  Rue  Saint-Honore,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  his  house ;  that,  being  already  uneasy 
about  his  guest,  he  had  gone  to  see  the  victim,  and 
had  recognized  the  man  who  had  arrived  at  his 
place  the  evening  before." 

"  I  hope  that's  a  history.  Unfortunately,  one 
hears  only  too  many  similar  stories.  Ours  are  really 
cut-throat  streets,  and  it  is  not  well,  after  nine 
o'clock,  to  be  out  in  them.  The  gentlemen  of  the 
parliament  make  decrees  often  enough,  but  it 
doesn't  do  much  good.  A  little  while  ago,  it  seems 
a  counsellor  of  the  Chamber  of  Investigation  was 
similarly  murdered.  The  parliament  has  just  pro- 
mulgated a  new  ordinance  against  these  worthless 
fellows  —  haven't  they,  monsieur  ? " 

"  Yes,"  said  Urbain  ;  "  the  public  prosecutor 
has  just  complained  of  murders,  assassinations  and 
robberies,  which  take  place  every  day,  as  many 
upon  the  highways  as  in  the  city  or  the  suburbs,  by 
armed  persons  who  forcibly  break  into  houses,  and 
,  that  through  the  negligence  of  the  police  officers 


I02         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

who  do  not  properly  perform  their  duty.  Parlia- 
ment yesterday  passed  a  new  decree,  ordering  that 
vagabonds,  men  of  bad  character,  and  robbers, 
should  vacate  the  city  and  the  faubourgs  of  Paris 
within  twenty-four  hours." 

"Well,  you'll  see,  tonight  we  shall  hear  a  bigger 
rumpus  than  ever." 

"  And  the  barber  Touquet  is  not  married  ?  "  re- 
sumed Urbain,  who  wished  to  return  to  the  sub- 
ject of  conversation  which  was  interesting  to  him. 

"  No,  he's  a  bachelor,"  said  Madame  Ledoux. 

"  And  this  young  girl  that  lodges  with  him  —  " 

"  She's  the  little  one  whom  he  adopted." 

"  She  had  no  other  protectors  ? " 

"What  could  you  expect,  since  nobody  knew 
her  parents  ?  Touquet  has,  they  say,  taken  very 
good  care  of  her;  I  will  do  him  the  justice  to  say 
that.  He  has  taken  into  his  house,  to  wait  on  the 
little  one,  a  servant,  old  Marguerite,  a  gossip,  who 
is  always  seeking  for  preservatives  against  the  wind, 
the  thunder,  the  sorcerers,  or  even  for  talismans  to 
guard  her  dear  Blanche  against  the  snares  of  the 
gallants." 

"  Blanche,  then,  is  the  name  of  the  young  girl?" 

"  Yes ;  that  is  her  name." 

"And  this  old  woman  is  the  only  one  about 
her?" 

"  Mercy  !  isn't  that  enough  ?  Besides,  the  little 
one  never  goes  out,  and  no  one  ever  sees  her  even 
put  her  nose  out  of  the  window.'* 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      103 

"  Tell  me,  ladies,  don't  you  think,  with  me,  that 
the  barber  has  brought  up  this  pretty  child  for 
himself,  and  that  he  would  not  take  so  much  care 
of  her  unless  he  was  in  love  with  her  ? " 

"Indeed,  that  might  very  well  be  possible.  Tou- 
quet  is  still  young,  and  perhaps  wishes  to  marry 
her." 

"  Nonsense  !  I  don't  believe  that ;  and  besides, 
they  say  that  the  young  person  is  not  good-look- 
ing. I  have  heard  it  said  by  an  ugly  little  thin 
man,  with  a  long  sword,  who  is  often  at  the  bar- 
ber's shop,  that  the  orphan  is  very  ugly." 

"  Ugly  !  "  cried  Urbain  quickly.  "  That's  a 
frightful  lie ! " 

"  Ah,  monsieur  has  seen  her,  then  ?  "  immedi- 
ately said  the  gossips,  looking  at  the  young  man 
with  a  mischievous  air. 

The  latter  felt  that  he  had  committed  an  Im- 
prudence ;  but  having  nothing  more  to  learn  from 
these  dames,  he  made  them  a  low  bow  and  left  the 
shop,  leaving  the  gossips  to  talk  among  them- 
selves. 

"  Well,  if  he  hasn't  gone,  and  he  didn't  tell  us 
what  he  wanted  with  Touquet." 

But  Urbain  had  learned  enough ;  and  while 
directing  his  steps  toward  the  Rue  Montmartre, 
where  he  dwelt,  our  lover  cogitated  thus :  — 

"  She's  not  the  barber's  daughter ;  he  has  stood 
to  her  in  place  of  a  father,  but  he  has  no  rights 
over  her  except  those  accorded  to  a  benefactor  by 


I04        THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

a  grateful  heart.  She's  the  daughter  of  a  gentleman, 
which  is  much  better ;  my  father  was  a  gentleman 
also,  who  valiantly  fought  under  King  Henry. 
The  old  soldiers  still  remember  Captain  Dorge- 
ville,  and  the  name  which  he  has  transmitted  to 
me  is  pure  and  without  stain.  I  am  alone  in  the 
world ;  I  am  my  own  master.  Like  her  I  have 
no  parents,  for  a  year  ago  death  deprived  me  of 
my  good  mother.  My  fortune  is  very  moderate, 
—  twelve  hundred  livres  income  and  a  little  house 
by  the  seaside.  That  is  all  my  father  left  me ;  but 
she  has  nothing  more,  and  by  working  I  could  ren- 
der her  happy.  I  am  about  to  take  my  bachelor's 
degree,  but  I  shall  now  leave  this  unfruitful  career ; 
science  brings  fortune  too  slowly.  I  don't  know, 
however,  if  I  could  please  her.  Yes,  that's  the  first 
task  with  which  I  should  occupy  myself.  If  she 
loves  me,  I  will  ask  her  hand  of  the  barber.  He 
will  wish  to  assure  her  happiness;  he  could  not 
refuse  me  unless  he  himself — If  these  women  said 
rightly  he  is  in  love  with  her.  The  hard  tone  with 
which  he  answered  me  this  morning,  his  refusal  to 
lodge  me  in  his  house,  make  me  believe  it.  And 
that  wretch  who  dared  to  say  that  she  was  ugly !  — 
when  object  more  enchanting  never  met  my  eyes. 
Ah,  it  wasn't  of  her  he  was  speaking.  If  such  a 
thing  could  happen,  I  should  like  to  see  her,  to 
tell  her  of  the  love  which  she  has  inspired  ;  and,  if 
I  could  manage  to  please  her,  nothing  then  could 
prevent  me  from  becoming  her  husband." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      105 

These  were,  somebody  will  say,  very  foolish 
plans  concerning  a  young  girl  whose  face  one  had 
only  perceived  through  some  very  dim  window- 
panes  ;  and  it  was  on  the  possession  of  this  almost 
ideal  object  that  Urbain  already  based  the  happi- 
ness of  his  life.  But  let  us  look  back  on  our  own 
lives.  We  were  hardly  more  reasonable,  —  happy 
if  between  us  and  the  chimeras  which  enchanted 
us  there  was  nothing  thicker  than  a  pane  of  glass. 


CHAPTER  VII 

Intrigues  Thicken 

Chaudoreille  now  started  off  at  a  great  pace 
towards  the  city.  The  ten  crowns  which  he  felt 
in  his  purse,  on  which  he  prudently  kept  his 
hand  while  walking,  caused  him  to  hold  his  head 
even  more  arrogantly  than  he  usually  did.  He 
had  placed  his  little  hat  over  his  left  eye  in  such 
a  manner  that  the  old  red  feather  with  which  it 
was  adorned  fell  precisely  over  his  right  eye,  and 
as  he  walked  mincingly  along,  at  each  step  that 
he  took  the  chevalier  could  thus  enjoy  the  wav- 
ing of  his  ridiculous  plume. 

Never  had  the  Chevalier  de  Chaudoreille  felt 
so  clever,  so  inordinately  satisfied  with  himself. 
Blanche's  image,  so  sweet,  so  beautiful,  her  de- 
lightful manner,  which  possessed  all  the  innocent 
witchery  of  girlhood,  was  still  before  his  eyes, 
and  as  he  was  never  lacking  in  confidence  as  to 
his  own  merits,  he  readily  persuaded  himself  that 
the  young  beauty  could  not  see  him  with  indiffer- 
ence, and  was  even  a  little  taken  with  him.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  enterprise  with  which  he  was 
charged  by  the  barber,  as  the  agent  of  the  Mar- 
quis  de  Villebelle,   flattered  his   self-love.     He 

io6 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      107 

believed  himself  the  friend,  the  confidant,  of  the 
Marquis  de  Villebelle,  although  the  latter  had 
never  spoken  to  him ;  but  he  thought  that  the 
adroitness  with  which  he  would  serve  him  in  his 
amorous  plan  would  be  sooner  or  later  known  to 
the  great  nobleman  and  would  win  his  favor.  Full 
of  this  idea,  he  hastened  to  reach  the  shop  of  which 
Touquet  had  spoken.  Before  entering,  Chaudo- 
reille  resumed  to  himself, — 

"One  mustn't  go  in  here,"  said  he,  "looking  like 
a  snob,  and  turn  the  shop  upside  down  without 
buying  anything.  I  must  not  forget  that  I  am  sent 
by  a  great  personage.  They  have  given  me  ten 
crowns  on  account,  as  the  price  of  my  services,  but 
I  can  very  well  spend  twenty-four  sous." 

This  determination  taken,  he  opened  the  door 
of  the  shop  and  entered  nimbly  ;  but  in  wheeling 
round  in  order  to  appear  more  graceful  and  to  bow 
at  the  same  time  to  the  right  and  left,  he  sent  Ro- 
lande's  scabbard  through  one  of  the  panes  of  the 
glass  door,  and  it  broke  in  a  thousand  pieces. 

Chaudoreille's  face  lengthened  and  he  felt  some 
confusion,  for  he  calculated  that  the  price  of  the 
pane  already  exceeded  the  sum  he  had  intended  to 
lay  out.  Two  young  persons  seated  behind  the 
counter  burst  into  laughter,  while  an  old  woman 
placed  opposite  murmured  between  her  teeth,  — 

"  He  must  be  very  awkward." 

"  I  will  pay  for  it,"  said  Chaudoreille  at  last, 
heaving  a  big  sigh. 


io8         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Indeed  I  should  hope  so/*  responded  the 
shopkeeper ;  "  but  has  anyone  ever  seen  a  man 
carry  a  sword  bigger  than  himself?  ** 

At  these  words  the  chevalier  drew  himself  up 
and  stood  on  his  tiptoes,  and  glanced  angrily  at  the 
old  woman. 

"  It*s  very  astonishing,"  said  he,  "  that  anyone 
should  permit  herself  such  reflections.  I  carry  the 
weapon  that  suits  me,  and  if  a  bearded  chin  had 
said  the  same  thing  to  me,  my  sword  would  have 
immediately  taken  the  measure  of  his  body." 

"  I  didn't  intend  to  say  anything  to  make  you 
angry,"  replied  the  shopkeeper,  softening ;  "  only 
it  seemed  to  me  that  that  long  sword  would  em- 
barrass you  in  walking." 

**  Embarrass  me !  That  is  a  different  thing,"  and 
Chaudoreille  turned  his  back  to  the  shopkeeper  to 
approach  the  young  ladies,  saying  to  himself,  — 

**  I  didn't  come  here  to  discuss  the  length  of  my 
sword.    Let's  leave  this  woman's  twaddle." 

"  What  do  you  wish,  monsieur  ? "  said  a  young, 
squint-eyed  girl,  with  a  flat  nose,  thick  lips  and 
crooked  chin,  whose  dark-red  skin  seemed  covered 
with  a  coat  of  varnish. 

Chaudoreille  looked  at  her  for  some  moments, 
saying  to  himself,  — 

"  By  jingo !  she's  not  very  much  like  the  por- 
trait of  the  little  one  which  they  gave  me.  It's  true 
that  love  is  blind,  and  that  great  noblemen  like 
original  faces." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      109 

But  after  looking  at  the  person  who  addressed 
him,  Chaudoreille  glanced  a  little  farther  and  per- 
ceived another  woman  measuring  some  ribbons. 
At  the  first  glance  the  barber's  messenger  recog- 
nized the  young  girl  whose  portrait  had  been 
drawn  for  him.  She  was  all  Touquet  had  painted 
her,  though  he  could  not  then  see  the  color  of  her 
eyes,  which  were  bent  on  the  ribbon.  Chaudoreille 
approached  her  and,  bowing  graciously,  said  to 
himself,  — 

**  This  is  our  affair.  I  have  an  astonishing  tact 
for  divining  correctly.  Other  people  hesitate  for 
an  hour ;  but  I  recognize  immediately  those  who 
have  been  pointed  out  to  me,  and  I  am  never  de- 
ceived. Here  are  some  delightful  ribbons,"  said 
Chaudoreille,  leaning  on  the  counter,  carelessly 
caressing  his  chin,  and  trying  to  imitate  the  free 
manners  and  impertinent  tone  of  the  profligates  of 
the  day. 

The  young  girl  then  raised  her  eyes  to  the 
chevalier;  their  brightness,  their  expression,  ar- 
rested Chaudoreille  in  the  midst  of  a  compliment 
from  which  he  expected  the  most  happy  results. 

"  By  jingo  !  what  a  glance  !  what  fire  !  **  said 
he,  taking  a  step  backward,  while  the  damsel  con- 
tinued to  look  at  him. 

In  order  to  enchant  her  he  attempted  to  turn 
a  light  pirouette,  in  which  Rolande's  scabbard  just 
missed  putting  out  the  eye  of  the  cat,  which  was 
lying  on  a  neighboring  stool.   A  mocking  smile 


no         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

played  on  the  lips  of  the  young  girl,  who  said, 
"  What  ribbon  does  monsieur  wish  ?  " 

"  What  ribbon  ?  My  faith  !  I  don't  much  know. 
Something  to  match  the  rest  of  my  costume.  It 
is  to  make  a  knot  for  Rolande." 

"  And  who  is  Rolande,  monsieur  ?  ** 

"  My  sword,  beautiful  brunette,  which  I  will 
pass  through  the  body  of  him  who  denies  that 
you  have  the  most  beautiful  eyes  in  the  world." 

Delighted  at  his  compliment,  Chaudoreille  said 
to  himself  in  an  undertone,  — 

"  Take  care  ;  we  mustn't  go  too  far,  or  be  too 
amiable ;  I  must  not  forget  that  I  did  not  come 
here  on  my  own  account.  This  young  girl  ap- 
pears somewhat  smitten,  from  the  way  she  looks  at 
me.  Zounds  !  if  I  had  a  ruff  I  would  with  good- 
will cheat  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle  of  the  little 
one.  Come,  Chaudoreille,  hide  your  charms  if  you 
can ;  don't  dart  your  glances  at  this  pretty  per- 
son, and  hasten  to  tell  her  that  she  must  not  oc- 
cupy herself  with  you.** 

While  saying  this  Chaudoreille  unrolled  and  ex- 
amined twenty  different  ribbons,  approaching  them 
to  the  handle  of  his  sword  and  throwing  from 
time  to  time  a  glance  about  him,  to  assure  him- 
self that  he  could  speak  without  being  heard  by 
the  other  two  women  in  the  shop. 

This  manoeuvre  did  not  escape  the  eyes  of  the 
young  girl,  who  smiled,  and  seemed  to  wait  for 
Chaudoreille   to    explain    himself.      Happily  for 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      iii 

Chaudoreille,  two  people  came  into  the  shop,  and 
while  the  old  woman  and  the  other  damsel  were 
serving  them,  he  opened  a  conversation  in  a  low 
tone. 

"  I  did  not  come  here  only  to  buy  a  ribbon, 
celestial  merchant." 

"  If  you  wish  anything  else,  speak,  monsieur, 
and  you  shall  be  served." 

"  Julia,  have  you  not  finished  with  monsieur  ? " 
said  the  old  woman  impatiently,  looking  angrily 
at  the  long  falchion  of  the  chevalier,  which,  every 
time  he  moved,  threatened  her  cat's  eyes. 

"  Monsieur  has  not  decided  yet,"  answered 
Julia,  while  Chaudoreille  cried  with  an  imperti- 
nent air,  — 

"It  seems  to  me  that  I  should  be  allowed  to 
choose  my  own  colors.  When  a  man  like  me  comes 
into  a  shop,  one  should,  my  good  woman,  keep  him 
there  as  long  as  possible  ;  if  you  wish  to  have  my 
custom,  leave  me  to  chat  as  much  as  I  please  with 
this  beautiful  child." 

This  insolent  mode  of  speech  was  then  so  much 
in  fashion,  that  she  remained  silent,  in  place  of 
putting  the  chevalier  out,  as  would  be  done  now 
to  a  coxcomb  who  behaved  like  Chaudoreille. 

"  Oh,  by  jingo  !  if  one  did  not  keep  these  little 
shopkeepers  in  their  place  I  believe  they  would 
permit  themselves  to  make  observations  to  us," 
said  Chaudoreille,  approaching  for  the  twentieth 
time  a  gold-colored  ribbon  to  his  doublet.    "  This 


112         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

color  goes  very  well  with  my  cloak.  What  do  you 
think  of  it,  adorable  damsel  ?  " 

"  I  think  that  these  ribbons  are  too  fresh  to 
blend  with  monsieur's  clothing,  and  that  that  one 
swears  at  them." 

"  I  confess  that  the  velvet  of  my  jerkin  is  a 
little  tarnished,  but  what  could  you  expect  ?  When 
a  man  fights  he  necessarily  attracts  dust  and  pow- 
der. Here's  a  cloak  that  I've  not  had  more  than 
six  weeks,  and  I'll  wager  that  you  would  say  it 
had  been  worn  for  some  months." 

"Decide  on  your  ribbon,  monsieur,"  said  the 
young  girl,  without  answering. 

"Give  me  a  gold-colored  rosette,"  said  Chau- 
doreille ;  and  he  added  in  a  mysterious  tone,  **  I 
have  something  very  important  to  communicate 
to  you." 

"  I  doubt  it,"  said  Julia. 

"Come,"  said  Chaudoreille  to  himself,  "Til 
wager  that  she  believes  that  I'm  in  love  with  her 
and  is  impatiently  awaiting  my  declaration.  I'm 
incorrigible ;  I  let  myself  go,  and  I  have  turned 
her  head  without  even  perceiving  it.  Let  us  has- 
ten to  disabuse  her.  —  No,  beautiful  brunette,  you 
need  not  doubt  it,"  responded  he,  lowering  his 
eyes  with  a  coquettish  air ;  "  I  ought  to  confess 
to  you  that  it  is  not  of  myself  that  I  seek  you, 
and  that  I  am  only  the  ambassador  of  Love,  when 
you  would  have  taken  me  for  Love  himself." 

Julia's  hearty  laughter  prevented  Chaudoreille 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      113 

from  continuing,  and  he  did  not  know  at  first  how 
to  take  this  excessive  gayety ;  but  his  self-love  al- 
ways made  him  place  things  to  his  own  advantage, 
and  he  decided  to  laugh  also,  while  saying  in  a  low 
tone  to  the  young  girl,  — 

"  Isn't  it  very  funny  to  behold  in  me  a  lover's 
messenger  ?  —  I,  who  could  cheat  them  all  of  their 
conquests.    It's  a  great  joke,  in  truth.'* 

"Come,  monsieur  ambassador,  give  me  your  mes- 
sage," said  Julia,  looking  pityingly  at  the  envoy. 

Chaudoreille  threw  a  glance  all  around  him,  put 
a  finger  on  his  mouth,  examined  the  persons  who 
were  in  the  shop,  pushed  from  him  a  stool  on 
which  the  cat  was  lying,  then  leaning  toward  Julia 
with  the  air  of  a  conspirator,  he  whispered  in  her 
ear,  — 

"  A  great  lord  sent  me  to  you.  He*s  a  rich  and 
powerful  man ;  he's  a  personage  in  favor ;  he's 
the  gallant  who  —  " 

"  He's  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle,"  said  Julia 
impatiently.  "I've  known  him  for  along  time. 
What  does  he  want  with  me  ?  What  has  he  bid- 
den you  say  to  me  ?    Come,  monsieur,  speak." 

"  It  must  be  that  I  am  very  adroit,"  said  Chau- 
doreille, "  when  without  my  speaking  she  divines 
everything  that  I  wish  to  say  to  her.  —  Since  you 
know  his  name,"  resumed  he,  again  approaching 
his  face  to  Julia's  ear,  the  latter  brusquely  pushing 
him  away,  "  I  have  no  need  of  telling  you.  This 
great  nobleman  adores  you.** 

Vouvn 


114         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Undoubtedly  he  did  not  employ  you  to  ex- 
press his  sentiments." 

"  No,  but  he  sent  me  to  ask  you  to  meet  him. 
If  you  do  not  accord  him  this  favor,  he  will  set 
fire  to  the  four  corners  of  this  street,  that  he  may 
have  the  pleasure  of  saving  you,  fair  Julia,  —  for 
it  is  thus  I  believe  that  you  are  called,  which 
makes  me  think  that  you  are  not  French.  Have 
I  rightly  divined  ?  ** 

"  Has  anyone  commissioned  you  to  ask  that 
question  ?  "  asked  Julia,  looking  at  Chaudoreille 
disdainfully. 

The  latter  bit  his  lips,  put  his  left  hand  on  his 
hip,  and  said  in  a  bass  voice,  — 

"What  shall  I  say  to  the  noble  Marquis  de 
Villebelle,  of  whom  I  am  the  intimate  confidant, 
and  whom  I  represent  at  this  moment  ?  ** 

"Tell  him  to  choose  his  messengers  better," 
said  Julia  in  a  dry  tone. 

"  I  was  sure  of  it,"  said  Chaudoreille,  taking 
some  steps  backward ;  "  she  has  fallen  in  love  with 
me ;  it  is  my  personal  attractions  that  have  played 
me  this  trick.  All  this  is  very  disagreeable ;  I 
should  have  disguised  myself  a  little,  or  at  least 
should  not  have  permitted  my  eyes  to  make  fresh 
wounds.  There  is  money  to  be  got  here.  By 
jingo  1  I  must  not  lose  sight  of  that ; "  and  Chau- 
doreille repeated  to  Julia,  not  allowing  her,  as  a 
matter  of  prudence,  to  see  more  than  his  pro- 
file,— 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       115 

**  What  shall  I  say  to  the  marquis  ?  Where  will 
you  walk  tomorrow  evening  ?  " 

The  young  girl  waited  for  some  moments  in 
silence,  appearing  to  reflect  deeply ;  while  Chau- 
doreille  fingered  his  purse,  very  anxious  as  to  her 
answer,  and  saying  to  himself,  — 

"In  any  case,  I  shall  not  give  them  back  the 
ten  crowns. 

"Tomorrow  evening  at  eight  o'clock,  on  the 
Pont  de  la  Tournelle,"  said  the  young  Italian  at 
last ;  for  Julia,  in  fact,  was  not  French. 

"  *Tis  enough,"  responded  Chaudoreille,  con- 
tinuing to  hold  himself  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
show  only  his  profile ;  "  I  have  nothing  more  to 
ask  of  you ;  let  us  part,  for  fear  the  sight  of  me 
make  you  change  your  resolution." 

The  messenger  already  had  hold  of  the  knob 
of  the  door  when  Julia  recalled  him. 

**  You  have  forgotten  to  pay  for  your  ribbon, 
monsieur." 

"  By  Jove !  that's  true.  What  the  devil  has  got 
me?   I'm  as  stupid  as  possible." 

While  saying  this  Chaudoreille  drew  forth  his 
purse,  rattling  the  ten  crowns  that  it  held  as  loudly 
as  possible,  counting  and  recounting  them  several 
times  in  his  hand. 

"  I  don't  know  if  I  have  any  change  about  me," 
said  he.  "  Ordinarily  I  carry  nothing  but  gold, 
it  is  so  much  lighter.  How  much  is  it,  beautiful 
merchant  ? " 


ii6         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

**  Thirty  sous,  monsieur." 

"  Thirty  sous  for  a  rosette ! "  cried  Chaudo- 
reille  to  himself,  making  a  grimace,  and  putting 
the  coins  back  in  his  purse.  "  That  seems  to  me 
a  considerable  price.  You  must  notice  that  the 
ribbon  is  very  narrow." 

*'For  a  man  who  carries  nothing  but  gold," 
said  Julia, "  I  am  astonished  that  monsieur  should 
bargain  over  such  a  trifle." 

"  I'm  not  bargaining ;  but  still  it  seems  to  me 
that  you  might  knock  something  oflT,  and  that  for 
twenty-four  sous  one  ought  to  have  a  superb  ro- 
sette. No  matter ;  TH  pay  it  with  a  good  grace ; 
give  mc  my  change." 

He  presented  one  of  the  crowns  vnth  a  sigh, 
and  while  Julia  was  counting  out  his  change  he 
fastened  the  gold-colored  rosette  to  Rolande's 
handle.  The  effect  that  the  ribbon  would  produce 
somewhat  mitigated  his  regrets  at  {paying  thirty 
sous  for  it.  He  took  the  money,  and,  recalling  to 
himself  that  they  could  ask  him  to  pay  for  some- 
thing else,  he  ran  to  the  door,  darted  into  the 
street  and  disappeared  as  quickly  as  possible. 

"And  my  window-pane,"  said  the  old  shop- 
keeper, —  **  did  he  pay  for  my  pane  ? " 

"  Ah,  mon  Dieu !  no,  madame,"  answered  Julia. 

"  I  was  sure  of  it.  Run,  my  good  girls,  run  as 
fast  as  you  can.  That  wicked  coxcomb,  trying  to 
play  the  spark,  with  his  old  threadbare  mantle, 
with  his  old  feather  that  I  wouldn't  take  to  dust 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       117 

my  shelves !  He  turned  everything  upside  down 
here,  and  just  barely  missed  putting  out  my  cat's 
eyes ;  he  was  impertinent  to  me,  bargained  for  two 
hours  over  a  rosette,  and  ran  away  without  pay- 
ing for  the  pane.  He's  some  pickpocket,  some 
cutpurse.** 

The  two  damsels  opened  the  shop  door  and 
looked  down  the  street,  but  could  see  nothing  of 
monsieur  le  chevalier. 

"  It's  my  fault,  madame,"  said  Julia ; "  I  should 
have  asked  him  for  the  price  of  the  window.  I 
will  pay  for  it" 

"Yes,  mademoiselle;  that  will  teach  you  an- 
other time  not  to  listen  to  the  conversation  of 
these  gentlemen  who  make  so  much  trouble  and 
haven't  a  sou  in  their  pockets." 

The  young  Italian  did  not  answer.  It  is  prob- 
able that  at  that  moment  she  was  not  interested 
in  the  pane  of  glass  or  in  Chaudoreille. 

Night  approached.  For  some  hours  all  had  been 
silent  in  the  barber's  shop ;  for  he,  following  his 
habitual  custom,  had  closed  his  shutters  as  soon 
as  day  declined,  since  he  was  not  in  the  habit  of 
receiving  strangers  and  waited  on  no  customers 
in  the  evening.  This  was  the  time  that  Touquet 
had  chosen  for  his  dinner  hour,  although  people 
commonly  took  this  meal  much  earlier.  The  bar- 
ber's dinner,  therefore,  also  passed  for  a  supper. 

As  soon  as  Marguerite  called  from  her  kitchen, 
"  We  are  waiting  for  you,  mademoiselle,"  Blanche 


ii8         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

left  her  room  and  quickly  went  down  into  the 
lower  room  where  the  meal  was  served.  Touquet 
dined  with  the  young  girl.  This  was  the  moment 
of  the  day  when  they  were  longest  together,  al- 
though the  barber  always  appeared  to  wish  to 
abridge  the  time  as  much  as  possible,  remaining  at 
the  table  only  as  long  as  was  absolutely  necessary 
in  order  to  satisfy  his  appetite,  and  answering  only 
in  monosyllables  to  all  that  Blanche  said  to  him, 
so  as  not  to  prolong  the  duration  of  the  repast. 

This  time  the  barber  was,  as  usual,  seated  near 
the  hearth,  waiting  for  Blanche  to  come  down; 
but  when  she  appeared,  contrary  to  his  custom, 
he  raised  his  eyes  to  the  young  girl  and  seemed 
to  wish  to  read  hers.  Surprised  at  being  thus 
regarded  by  him  whose  looks  had  always  evaded 
her  smile,  Blanche  involuntarily  lowered  her  eyes, 
which  beamed  with  truth  and  innocence,  and  a 
little  more  color  appeared  in  her  cheeks ;  for  the 
barber's  look  was  more  piercing  than  usual. 

Touquet  already  seemed  reassured.  The  ex- 
pression of  Blanche's  features  had  dissipated  the 
uneasiness  which  he  had  felt ;  he  placed  himself 
at  the  table  and  made  a  sign  to  the  lovely  girl  to 
take  her  accustomed  place.  The  meal  seemed  as 
though  it  would  pass  in  silence  as  usual ;  Marguer- 
ite only,  while  changing  the  dishes,  ventured  some 
remarks,  to  which  Blanche  answered  a  few  words. 

But  all  of  a  sudden  the  young  girl  appeared  to 
recall  an  agreeable  idea,  and  cried, — 


ing? 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       119 

My  friend,  did  you  hear  the  music  this  mom- 


cc 


The  music,"  said  Touquet,  glancing  furtively 
at  Blanche ;  "  yes,  I  believe  I  heard  it." 

"  Oh,  it  was  so  pretty  !  They  sang  in  Italian 
at  first ;  then  afterwards  in  French,  —  a  romance. 
Wait ;  I  believe  I  can  remember  the  refrain,"  and 
Blanche  sang  with  expression,  — 

**  I  love  to  eternity. 
My  darling  is  all  to  me.** 

The  barber  knitted  his  thick  eyebrows  while 
listening  to  Blanche. 

"  What !  you  have  already  learned  the  ro- 
mance ? "  said  he  in  an  ironical  tone. 

"  No,  not  all  the  romance  ;  the  refrain  only." 

"  And  that  was  the  first  time  you  had  heard  it?  ** 

"  Yes,  monsieur." 

"  Did  you  open  your  window  then  ? " 

"No,  though  I  should  very  much  have  liked 
to  do  so ;  but  I  glued  myself  against  the  window 
so  as  to  hear  better." 

"  And  to  see  better,  no  doubt." 

"  See !  Oh,  I  like  to  hear  much  better,"  an- 
swered Blanche,  almost  frightened  at  the  barber's 
glance. 

"  Are  there  no  curtains  at  your  window  ? "  asked 
Touquet  in  a  moment. 

"Yes,  monsieur,  there  are  curtains,"  answered 
the  young  girl  timidly. 


120         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Blanche,  I've  told  you  that  I  don't  like  you 
to  expose  yourself  to  the  oglings  of  the  coxcombs 
who  pass  and  repass  in  the  street." 

"  But,  my  friend,  can  anyone  see  me  through 
the  windows  ? " 

"  Yes ;  no  doubt  of  it." 

"  Oh,  well,  my  friend,  if  that  displeases  you,  I 
won't  go  to  the  window  again." 

Touched  by  Blanche's  sweetness,  the  barber 
assumed  a  less  severe  expression,  and,  rising  from 
the  table,  he  said,  almost  kindly,  — 

"  Go  back  to  your  room,  Blanche ;  I  will  try 
soon  to  render  your  life  less  monotonous.  Yes,  I 
feel  that  you  cannot  continually  remain  in  such 
dull  retirement." 

**  Why,  I  am  all  right,  my  friend ;  and  if  I  could 
only  learn  that  romance  altogether,  but  M.  Chau- 
doreille  only  sings  me  his  villanelle,  and  that  is  not 
amusing." 

"  I  will  buy  you  some  others." 

"  Oh,  try  to  get  me  the  one  I  heard  this  morn- 
ing,— 

I  love  to  etermty. 

Can  you  remember  it  ? " 

**  Yes,  yes ;  I  will  remember  it.  —  But  I  am 
waiting  for  someone  to  come;  go  upstairs  to  your 
room." 

Blanche  curtseyed  to  the  barber  and  gayly  went 
up  to  her  room,  while  Touquet  said  to  himself, 
following  her  with  his  eyes,  — - 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       121 

"  Come,  I  was  wrong  to  make  myself  uneasy ; 
she  knows  nothing  of  him." 

An  hour  after  this  conversation  somebody 
knocked  at  the  barber's  door  and  Marguerite 
admitted  Chaudoreille,  who  came  into  the  lower 
room  with  the  important  air  of  a  man  who  is  very 
well  pleased  with  himself. 

"You're  very  late,"  said  Touquet,  signing  to 
him  to  seat  himself. 

"Why,  what  the  deuce,  my  dear  fellow  I  Do 
you  think  that  these  affairs  are  so  speedily  ar- 
ranged ? " 

"  I  don't  believe,  however,  that  you've  been  all 
this  time  in  the  shop  where  I  sent  you." 

"  No,  undoubtedly ;  but  I  passed  a  greater  part 
of  the  time  there.  After  that  it  was  necessary  for 
me  to  have  some  dinner,  for  you  did  not  invite 
me  to  partake  of  yours,  I  believe." 

"Well,  were  you  successful?  Give  me  an  ac- 
count of  your  mission." 

**  I  went  there.  Wait,  while  I  dry  my  forehead 
a  little." 

The  barber  made  a  movement  of  impatience 
and  Chaudoreille  passed  over  his  face  a  little  silk 
handkerchief,  which  for  prudence'  sake  he  never 
unrolled.  After  emitting  some  exclamations  of 
fatigue,  during  which  Touquet  impatiently  stamped 
his  foot,  he  commenced  his  story. 

"  To  go  to  that  place  in  the  city  I  could  take 
two  roads ;  I  don't  know  but  I  could  take  three." 


122         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  You  wretch !  take  a  dozen  if  you  like,  but 
get  there." 

"It  was  necessary  for  me  to  get  there,  and  then 
to  return  here.  I  decided  on  going  by  the  Pont- 
Neuf,  then  down  the  quay  into  the  street.  You 
know, where  they  sell  such  good  tarts." 

"  Chaudoreille,  you're  mocking  at  me." 

"No,  I'm  not;  but  it  seemed  to  me  I  should 
tell  you  everything  that  I  did.  But  you  are  so  pet- 
ulant. Finally,  I  took  the  shortest  way.  I  went 
into  the  shop  where  the  young  girl  works." 

"  That's  good  luck." 

"  I  entered  with  that  grace  which  characterizes 
me  ;  I  bowed  first  to  an  old  woman  who  was  on 
the  right,  and  afterwards  bowed  to  two  young 
girls  who  were  on  the  left.  In  the  middle  of  the 
shop  I  saw  nobody  but  a  cat  sleeping  on  a  stool." 

"  No  doubt  you  bowed  to  the  cat  also." 

"  Oh,  if  you  interrupt  me  I  shall  get  all  mixed 
up.  They  asked  me  what  I  wanted  ;  I  answered, 
dissembling  my  designs,  *Let  me  see  some  rib- 
bons.' They  showed  me  some  reds,  some  blues, 
some  greens,  some  yellows,  some  oranges ;  during 
this  time  I  examined  the  two  little  ones.  As  nature 
has  endowed  me  with  a  penetrating  eye,  I  recog- 
nized immediately  the  one  you  depicted  for  me." 

"  You  spoke  to  her  ?  " 

"  A  moment  and  you  shall  see  how  I  conducted 
the  matter.  I  was  sufficiently  adroit  to  get  her  to 
serve  me.    She  asked  me  what  color  I  had  decided 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       123 

upon ;  but  I,  with  careful  cunning,  did  not  de- 
cide in  order  that  I  might  prolong  the  conversa- 
tion. At  last,  by  a  happy  chance,  some  other 
people  came  into  the  shop ;  then  wc  were  less 
observed." 

"And  you  told  her  what  had  brought  you  there?'* 

"  I  decided  first  for  a  gold  color,  and  I  got  her 
to  make  a  rosette  for  Rolande.  Wait;  don't  you 
think  this  becomes  me  well?" 

So  saying,  Chaudoreille  rose  and  put  his  sword 
near  Touquet's  face,  who  pushed  the  chevalier 
rather  brusquely  into  his  seat,  exclaiming,  — 

"If  I  didn't  restrain  myself  I  should  break 
every  bone  in  your  body  to  teach  you  not  to  abuse 
my  patience  thus." 

"There's  no  pleasure  in  conducting  an  intrigue 
with  you,"  said  Chaudoreille,  a  little  disconcerted 
at  being  reseated  so  heavily ;  "  but  if  you  wish 
that  I  should  come  to  the  facts,  here  I  am.  I  made 
known  to  her  the  intentions  of  the  Marquis  de 
Villebelle." 

"  His  intentions  ?  I  didn't  communicate  them 
to  you." 

"  That  is  to  say,  his  love,  his  passion.  At  last 
I  demanded  a  meeting  for  tomorrow  evening." 

"  Well,  what  then  ?  " 

"  She  hesitated  for  a  long  time,  reflected  for  a 
long  time ;  then  I  redoubled  my  eloquence  ;  I 
pictured  the  marquis  dying  of  despair  if  she  re- 
pulsed his  vows." 


124         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Idiot !  was  that  necessary  ? " 

**  Yes,  certainly ;  it  was  highly  necessary ;  the 
Kttle  one  was  weighing  it" 

"  Did  she  make  any  wry  faces  ?  " 

**  No ;  on  the  contrary,  she  gave  me  the  most 
interesting  glances." 

"  Finally,  is  she  coming?" 

"  Yes,  by  jingo !  she's  coming.  Yes ;  but  it 
took  me  to  decide  her." 

"Tomorrow  evening?" 

"  Yes,  at  eight  o'clock." 

**  Where  is  she  to  be  ?  " 

"  On  the  Pont  de  la  Toumellc." 

«  That's  good." 

"  As  soon  as  I  had  got  her  answer,  I  attached 
my  rosette." 

"  Excuse  me  from  the  rest ;  I  know  enough." 

**  You  must  know  that  in  bowing  too  precipi- 
tately I  broke  a  pane,  for  which  they  made  me 
pay  a  crown,  and  for  which  I  hope  I  shall  be  reim- 
bursed.— Ah,  that's  not  all ;  I  know  that  the  lady 
is  named  Julia,  and  also  that  she  is  an  Italian. 
You  see  I  did  not  lose  any  time.  Are  you  pleased 
with  me  ?  " 

"Yes,  it's  not  so  bad,"  s^d  Touquet,  with  a 
less  gloomy  expression,  approaching  a  table  on 
which  Marguerite  had,  according  to  her  usual  cus- 
tom, placed  some  cups  and  a  pewter  pot  full  of 
wine.  **  Stop  your  eternal  chatter;  I'm  well  enough 
pleased  with  you.   Drink  a  cup  of  wine." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      125 

"You  call  exactitude  of  detail  chatter,"  said 
Chaudoreille,  filling  one  of  the  cups  up  to  the 
brim ;  "  but  I  was  trying  to  show  you  that  I  did 
not  steal  the  money  which  you  gave  me.  As  for 
the  pane  of  glass,  I  had  to  make  that  circumstance 
known  to  you,  for  I  had  only  nine  crowns  remain- 
ing. —  Ah,  I  forgot ;  the  gold-colored  rosette  cost 
me  two  crowns,  so  IVe  only  received  seven." 

"  Two  crowns  for  that  miserable  knot,"  said 
the  barber,  glancing  mockingly  at  the  handle  of 
the  sword.  "  Chaudoreille,  you  have  missed  your 
vocation ;  you  should  be  a  steward ;  you  know 
how  to  swell  your  bills." 

"What  must  I  understand  by  these  words,  I 
beg  of  you  ? " 

**That  that  rosette  did  not  cost  over  fifteen 
sous." 

"  Yes,  for  a  passer-by,  for  an  unknown,  perhaps ; 
but  when  one  represents  a  great  nobleman,  shop- 
keepers fleece  him,  and  I  didn't  believe  that 
I  should  haggle.  If  anyone  had  asked  me  three 
times  the  price,  I  should  have  given  it  without 
uttering  a  word." 

"  Calm  yourself,"  said  Touquet,  smiling  at  the 
heat  with  which  Chaudoreille  tried  to  prove  that 
he  had  spent  three  crowns ;  "  we  must  reimburse 
you  for  your  ruff." 

**  Oh,  I'm  not  uneasy  about  that,  but  what  shall 
I  do  tomorrow  ?  Shall  I  go  to  the  rendezvous  ? 
Shall  I  carry  off  the  little  one  ? " 


126         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  No  ;  that  concerns  me  only.  I  can  trust  you 
to  startle  the  game  for  me,  but  I  don't  think 
proper  to  let  you  bring  it  down." 

"  You  know  me  very  little  still,  my  dear  Tou- 
quet.  I  believe  that  you  should  render  more  jus- 
tice to  my  adroitness  and  my  valor.  If  you  knew 
how  many  intrigues  I  have  drawn  to  a  successful 
end !  It's  necessary  to  see  me  in  moments  of  diffi- 
culty. I  take  precedence  over  everybody ;  I  would 
abduct  a  Venus  under  the  eyes  of  Mars,  and  all 
the  Vulcans  would  not  make  me  afraid." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,  but  I  don't  want  to  put  you 
to  the  proof" 

"  All  the  worse  for  you,  for  you  would  see  some 
very  surprising  things.  No  obstacle  would  stop 
me ;  when  I'm  excited  I'm  an  Achilles.  Wait ;  I 
should  just  Hke  once,  by  chance,  that  you  should 
find  yourself  in  some  danger,  that  you  should  have 
need  of  help ;  then,  as  quick  as  lightning,  with  Ro- 
lande  in  my  hand  —  " 

At  this  moment  a  noise  was  heard  in  the  street, 
and  Touquet,  squeezing  Chaudoreille's  arm  ex- 
claimed, — 

"  Be  quiet !  be  quiet !   I  hear  something." 

"  What  does  it  matter  to  us  what  they  are  doing 
in  the  street?  There  are,  perhaps,  some  young 
men  laughing  and  amusing  themselves.  Let  them 
do  it.  I  tell  you,  then,  that,  brandishing  my  re- 
doubtable sword  —  " 

"  Be  quiet,  then,  stupid,"  resumed  the  barber. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       127 

holding  the  chevalier's  arm  still  more  tightly; 
"  they  are  beginning  again." 

They  then  distinctly  heard  the  sound  of  a  guitar 
which  someone  was  playing  near  the  house. 

"  Someone  who  loves  music,"  said  Chaudoreille. 

"  Hush !  let  us  listen,"  said  Touquet,  whose 
features  expressed  the  most  lively  anxiety,  while 
the  chevalier  murmured  in  a  bass  voice,  — 

"  They  don't  play  at  all  well ;  they  have  need 
of  some  of  my  lessons." 

Almost  immediately  a  voice  was  heard  which, 
accompanied  by  the  guitar,  sang  a  tender  romance, 
of  which  the  refrain  recalled  to  the  barber  the 
words  which  Blanche  had  quoted  to  him. 

"  No  more  doubt  of  it,"  said  Touquet,  rising 
suddenly ;  "  they  are  singing  to  her.  Ah,  reckless 
fellow,  I'll  go  and  take  away  from  you  all  desire 
to  return  here." 

While  saying  these  words  the  barber  ran  to  get 
his  poniard,  which  hung  over  the  fireplace,  while 
Chaudoreille  changed  color  and  murmured,  — 

"  What  the  devil  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  What 
are  you  going  to  do  ?  and  who  are  you  going  to  do 
it  to?" 

"  To  an  insolent  fellow  who  is  in  front  of  this 
house.  Come,  Chaudoreille  ;  follow  me.  If  there 
were  ten  of  them,  they  should  have  the  pleasure 
of  feeling  my  poniard.  You  shall  also  have  the 
pleasure  of  chasing  and  chastising  these  black- 
guards." 


128         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

While  saying  this  Touquet  ran  into  the  shop 
and  hastened  to  open  the  door,  being  by  that 
means  sooner  in  the  street  than  if  he  had  gone  by 
the  passageway.  While  he  precipitately  drew  the 
bolts,  Chaudoreille  rose  with  a  good  deal  of  fury 
and  ran  three  times  round  the  hall,  crying, — 

"  Where  th^  devil  have  I  laid  my  sword  ? " 

This  feat  accomplished,  he  perceived  that  Ro- 
lande  had  not  left  his  side,  and  cried  to  Touquet, 
who  could  not  hear  him,  — 

**  Stupid  that  I  am !  In  my  hurry  I  did  not  see 
him.  I  am  with  you ;  I  have  only  to  draw  him 
from  the  scabbard.  —  Come  then,  Rolande.  —  It 
is  this  cursed  knot  which  holds  him.  Plague  be 
on  the  rosette !  Touquet,  here  I  am ;  amuse  them 
a  little  until  I  can  draw  Rolande  from  the  scab- 
bard." 

But  the  barber  was  already  in  the  street,  while 
Chaudoreille  remained  at  the  back  of  the  room,  ap- 
pearing to  be  making  futile  efforts  to  draw  his 
sword,  crying  all  the  while,  — 

"  I  am  with  you !  Cursed  rosette  I  Without  it 
I  should  have  already  killed  five  or  six." 


CHAPTER   VIII 
Conversation  by  the  Fireside 

It  was  really  for  little  Blanche  that  somebody 
was  singing  and  accompanying  himself  on  the  gui- 
tar. Lovers  are  the  most  imprudent  of  mortals. 
Urbain  in  loving  Blanche  was  experiencing  love 
for  the  first  time,  for  he  would  have  scorned  to 
have  given  the  name  of  love  to  those  momentary 
caprices  of  the  fancy  which  are  extinguished  as 
soon  as  gratified ;  and  even  at  the  early  date  at 
which  we  are  writing,  the  young  men  permitted 
themselves  to  have  such  whims ;  but  when  they 
loved  truly  that  lasted  in  those  good  old  times, 
or  so  they  say,  much  longer  than  it  does  to-day, 
at  least  among  the  little  shopkeepers.  The  great 
have  always  had  their  privileges,  in  love  as  in 
everything  else. 

A  first  love  causes  one  to  commit  many  impru- 
dences ;  but  the  second  time  that  one's  heart  is 
assailed  by  the  tender  passion,  one  has  a  little 
more  experience ;  and  the  third  time,  one  knows 
how  to  hide  his  play.  It  is  necessary  to  become 
habituated  to  everything ;  and  if  women  do  not 
invariably  hold  to  their  first  love,  are  not  invari- 
ably faithful  to  it,  it  is  only  that  they  may  acquire 

Vol.  VII       H9 


I30         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

this  habituation,  and  it  would  ill  become  us  to 
call  it  a  crime  in  them. 

But  Urbain  disturbed  himself  very  little,  as  it 
will  appear;  he  had  unceasingly  before  his  eyes 
the  face  of  the  enchantress  he  had  perceived  at  the 
window,  and  he  ardently  desired  to  see  her  when 
there  should  be  nothing  between  them.  What  he 
had  heard  from  the  gossips  of  the  neighborhood 
had  strengthened  his  hope  and  perhaps  added  to 
the  feeling  he  already  experienced  for  her,  for  there 
was  something  romantic  in  the  history  of  the 
young  orphan ;  extraordinary  events  inflame  the 
imagination,  and  that  of  a  lover  takes  fire  very 
easily. 

But  before  seeking  to  surmount  the  obstacles 
which  stood  in  the  way  of  gaining  the  one  he  loved 
it  was  first  necessary  to  obtain  her  love,  without 
which  all  his  plans  could  avail  him  nothing.  One 
may  brave  the  jealousy  of  a  rival,  the  watchfulness 
of  a  tutor,  anger,  vengeance,  and  the  daggers  of  a 
thousand  Arguses ;  but  one  cannot  brave  the  in- 
difference of  the  beloved  object.  Before  that  ob- 
stacle all  prospects  of  happiness  vanish.  A  very 
much  smitten  lover  wishes  to  find  a  heart  which 
responds  to  his  own.  That  brutal  love  which  is 
satisfied  with  the  possession  of  the  body,  without 
caring  for  that  of  the  soul,  could  only  exist  among 
the  petty  tyrants  of  former  times,  who  plundered 
travellers  and  achieved  the  conquest  of  women 
at  the  point  of  the  sword;  then,  putting  their 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      131 

victims  behind  them  on  their  horses,  as  a  cus- 
tom-house officer  possesses  himself  of  contraband 
goods,  went  off  to  enjoy  themselves  with  their 
booty  in  the  depths  of  their  fastness,  troubling 
themselves  very  little  that  the  unhappy  creatures 
responded  to  their  loathsome  caresses  only  with 
tears. 

Today  love  is  more  delicate.  Before  everything, 
one  desires  to  please  ;  and  with  his  guineas  the 
great  lord  wishes  to  touch  the  heart  as  well  as  the 
hand  of  the  pretty  dancer;  and  he  succeeds,  be- 
cause dancers  generally  carry  their  hearts  in  their 
hands. 

While  taking  his  humble  meal  Urbain  said  to 
himself,  — 

"  How  shall  I  see  her?  How  shall  I  make 
myself  known  to  her  ?  Blanche  —  what  a  pretty 
name  !  and  how  well  it  suits  her  !  But  the  barber 
doesn't  seem  very  tractable ;  his  house  is  a  verita- 
ble fortress.  It  is  necessary,  before  everything, 
that  that  charming  girl  should  know  that  I  love 
her,  that  I  adore  her.  This  morning  she  listened 
to  the  musicians,  and  appeared  to  be  greatly 
pleased  with  the  last  romance  they  sang.  I  know 
that  romance;  I'll  go  this  evening  and  sing  it 
under  her  window ;  perhaps  she  will  show  her- 
self; perhaps  at  night  she  opens  her  window  to 
take  the  air." 

The  air  was  a  little  nipping,  for  the  season  was 
severe ;  but  a  lover  always  believes  it  is  spring- 


132         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

time.  Delighted  by  the  idea  Urbain  went  home 
to  get  his  guitar,  and  waited  impatiently,  until  the 
streets  should  be  deserted,  to  go  and  serenade  a 
woman  whom  he  did  not  know. 

This  Spanish  custom  was  then  much  in  fashion 
in  France.  There  are  still  some  little  towns  where 
it  is  preserved,  and  where  one  may  hear  between 
ten  and  eleven  o'clock  sentimental  songs  accom- 
panied by  the  guitar ;  but  in  the  great  capitals  it 
is  only  the  blind  and  the  organ-grinders  who  sing 
love  in  the  streets. 

The  hour  propitious  to  lovers  having  arrived, 
Urbain  went  to  the  Rue  des  Bourdonnais  ;  he  had 
easily  recognized  the  barber's  house,  having  spe- 
cially noted  it  in  the  morning ;  a  feeble  light  which 
shone  between  the  curtains  of  Blanche's  window 
seemed  to  indicate  that  the  young  girl  was  not  yet 
sleeping,  and,  without  reflecting  that  the  other 
dwellers  in  the  house  would  hear  him,  Urbain  had 
sung  with  the  most  tender  expression  he  could 
put  in  his  voice. 

We  have  seen  what  followed  on  this  impru- 
dence. At  the  sound  of  bolts  being  drawn,  the 
young  man  softly  departed,  and,  hiding  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  Rue  des  Mauvaises-Paroles,  he  heard 
the  threats  and  the  swearing  of  Touquet. 

"  He's  escaped,"  said  the  barber,  reentering  the 
lower  room  and  angrily  throwing  his  sword  on  the 
table.  These  words  seemed  to  break  the  charm 
which  held  Rolande  in  his  scabbard;  and  Chau- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      133 

dorellle,  drawing  his  sword  suddenly,  and  making 
it  flash  in  the  air,  ran  precipitately  into  the  shop, 
crying,  — - 

"And  now,  master  singers,  I'll  let  you  see 
something  fierce." 

"Don't  I  tell  you  there's  no  one  there,"  re- 
peated Touquet,  while  Chaudoreille  appeared  to 
wish  to  draw  the  bolts  of  the  door.  "  I  made  too 
much  noise  ;  the  rascal  heard  me  and  ran  off.  ** 

"  Are  you  quite  certain  there's  nobody  there  ?  " 
said  Chaudoreille,  still  brandishing  his  sword. 

"  Yes,  quite  sure." 

"  I  have  a  great  inclination  to  go  into  the  street 
and  satisfy  myself  as  to  that." 

"  Do  as  you  please  about  it ;  you  are  your  own 
master." 

"  No ;  on  reflection,  I  believe  that  would  be  a 
blunder ;  they  may  perhaps  come  back ;  it  will 
be  better  to  let  them  approach  without  fear;  then 
we  can  fall  suddenly  upon  them,  and  give  them  no 
quarter." 

So  saying,  the  chevalier  put  Rolande  into  the 
scabbard  and  returned  to  the  lower  room,  where 
he  seated  himself  before  the  fire  and  again  filled 
his  cup  with  wine,  which  he  swallowed  at  one 
draught,  to  cool  —  so  he  said  —  his  anger. 

The  barber  strode  up  and  down ;  he  was  strongly 
agitated,  and  appeared  to  have  forgotten  the  pres- 
ence of  Chaudoreille,  as  he  murmured  at  intervals 
in  a  gloomy  voice,  — 


134         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"That  which  I  feared  has  happened  at  last! 
That  beautiful  bud  has  been  seen,  and  they  will 
all  wish  to  cull  it.  They  will  seek  to  learn  who 
she  is,  where  she  comes  from ;  there  will  be  a 
thousand  remarks,  a  thousand  inquiries,  and  who 
knows  where  that  will  lead  ?  Bungling  fellow  that 
I  am !  I  well  had  need  to  guard  the  child.  I  be- 
lieved I  had  made  a  master  stroke  which  would 
disarm  all  suspicion.  I  ought  to  have  foreseen  that 
one  day  she  would  be  sixteen,  that  she  would  be 
charming,  and  that  in  order  to  possess  her  they 
would  employ  all  the  stratagems  which  I  have 
often  used  on  behalf  of  others." 

"  My  dear  fellow,"  said  Chaudoreille,  carrying 
to  his  lips  for  the  third  time  a  goblet  filled  to  the 
brim,  "  my  honest  Tbuquet,  if  you  don't  want  to 
take  care  of  the  little  one  any  longer,  give  her  to 
me,  and  I'll  answer  to  you  for  it  that  no  fop  shall 
be  allowed  to  see  her  face." 

"  What  shall  I  give  you  ?  "  said  the  barber,  as 
if  he  had  only  just  become  aware  of  Chaudoreille's 
presence.  "  What  are  you  talking  about  ?  An- 
swer me ! " 

"  Oh,  by  jingo  .  you  were  speaking  of  the  young 
flower  you  have  sheltered ;  I  heard  you  very 
plainly." 

"  You  heard  me ! "  cried  Touquet,  seizing  Chau- 
doreille by  the  arm  with  which  he  was  holding  his 
full  cup ;  "  and  what  did  I  say  ?  What  did  you 
hear  ?   Speak,  wretch !    Speak,  will  you  ?  ** 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       135 

"  Take  care  !  you're  shaking  my  arm.  Here's 
my  doublet  all  stained  with  wine  now.  What  the 
deuce  !    You'll  have  to  give  me  another." 

"  What  have  you  heard  ?  "  repeated  the  barber 
in  a  threatening  voice,  raising  his  closed  fist  on 
Chaudoreille,  while  with  the  other  hand  he  shook 
him  so  briskly  by  the  arm  that  a  great  part  of  the 
wine  covered  the  jaws  and  neck  of  the  chevalier. 

"  Nothing,  nothing,  I  swear  to  you,"  murmured 
the  latter,  lowering  his  eyes,  so  as  to  avoid  the 
barber's  gaze.  "  I  only  said  to  you  that  this  wine 
has  a  fine  bouquet,  and  that  if  you  wished  to  give 
me  some  bottles  to  keep  I  should  carefully  guard 
it  from  all  eyes.  I  believe  that's  what  I  was  say- 
ing ;  for,  in  truth,  you've  turned  me  upside  down 
with  your  irritable  conduct,  and  I  don't  know 
what  I'm  saying." 

Touquet  loosened  his  hold  of  Chaudoreille's 
arm,  as  if  ashamed  of  his  hasty  movements,  and, 
resuming  his  calmer  tone,  seated  himself  near  the 
latter. 

"  There  are  some  things  I  wish  to  keep  secret 
—  not  that  they're  of  any  great  importance  ;  and, 
for  the  matter  of  that,  I  don't  think  that  you  will 
ever  allow  yourself  to  prate  about  my  affairs  ;  you 
are  too  well  aware  that  my  dagger  would  at  once 
deprive  you  of  the  organ  of  which  you  made  such 
use." 

"  What  the  deuce  do  you  suppose  I  could  blab 
about  you  ? "  said  Chaudoreille,  drying  his  face 


136         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

and  his  clothing  with  his  little  silk  handkerchief, 
and  pinching  his  lips,  as  if  doubting  whether  Tou- 
quet  had  not  already  cut  out  his  tongue.  "  You 
never  tell  me  anything  about  your  business,  and 
I'm  not  a  man  to  invent  the  slightest  untruth." 

"I've  told  you  what  all  the  world  knows, — 
that  I  have  sheltered  Blanche  since  she  had  been 
left  an  orphan  at  my  house,  and  that  I  know  no 
more  than  anyone  else  about  her  father  or  her 
family.  She  is  now  grown  up  and  pretty.  Lovers 
will  begin  to  come ;  that's  what  vexes  me.  They'll 
seek  to  learn  everything  about  this  young  girl, 
and  assuredly  they  won't  know  more  about  it  than 
I  am  telling  you.  The  one  who  was  singing  just 
now  Is  known  to  me ;  he  came  into  my  shop  this 
morning,  and  stayed  two  hours,  in  the  hope  that 
Blanche  would  appear.  Do  you  hear  me,  Chau- 
doreille  ? " 

**  I  hear  you  —  if  you  wish  me  to,"  said  the 
chevalier,  continuing  to  rub  his  doublet ;  "  for  I 
don't  know  if  I  should  or  if  I  should  not  hear 
you.    That  shall  be  as  you  wish." 

"  I  wish  you  weren't  quite  so  foolish,"  said  the 
barber,  glancing  scornfully  at  his  neighbor. 

"  No  words  of  double  meaning,"  answered 
Chaudoreille ;  "you  know  I  don't  like  them.  This 
cursed  wine  stains,  and  for  the  moment  I  don't 
know  where  to  get  another  doublet." 

"  He's  a  mere  child,  a  scholar,  who  has  not  yet 
a  beard  on  his  chin,"  said  the  barber  after  a  mo- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       137 

ment's  silence,  which  was  only  interrupted  by  the 
rubbing  of  the  handkerchief  on  the  spots  impreg- 
nated by  wine.  "He  shows  the  small  experience 
he  has  had  in  love  intrigues  by  coming  to  sing 
before  my  door  —  in  order  to  let  me  know  who 
was  there.  The  poor  boy  has  much  need  of  a  les- 
son." 

"  He  certainly  is  not  first-rate  at  the  guitar." , 
"  I   don't  believe   that   he   can   be  known   to 
Blanche.    No  —  but  that  romance  he  was  sing- 
ing, —  it's  precisely  the  same  as  the  one  she  men- 
tioned to  me, — 

My  darling  is  all  to  me.'* 
"  That  doesn't  equal  — 

Thou  hast  lost  thy  fond  dove  too. 

Zounds  1  what  a  difference  in  the  melody  !  " 

"  No,  Blanche  is  candor  itself;  she  would  not 
have  spoken  to  me  of  that  romance  had  she  known 
the  young  man.  Why  the  devil  haven't  you  taught 
her  something  else  besides  that  old  rubbish  of 
Louis  the  Twelfth's  time  ?  If  you  had  taught  her 
to  sing  something  pretty  she  would  not  have  been 
enraptured  at  the  first  romance  sung  by  wandering 
minstrels." 

"  What  do  you  say  ?  Are  you  talking  to  me  ? " 
said  Chaudoreille,  raising  his  head. 

"  Of  course  I  am,  since  you  call  yourself  a  pro- 
fessor of  singing." 


138         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"My  dear  Touquet,  listen  well  to  what  I  am 
going  to  say :  I  don't  tease  you  about  your  method 
of  shaving  beards,  and  don't  you  meddle  with  my 
way  of  teaching  music.  Each  one  to  his  own  trade. 
You  know  the  proverb.  I  teach  my  pupils  noth- 
ing but  masterpieces,  and  I'm  not  going  to  cram 
their  heads  with  the  little  gurglings  of  those  mis- 
erable clowns  who  travel  from  Naples  here  singing 
the  same  roulade." 

"  It's  vexatious,  then,  that  the  young  girls  pre- 
fer these  roulades  to  your  masterpieces.  You  gave 
Blanche  a  music  lesson  this  morning,  and  she  tells 
me  that  you  have  wearied  her  with  your  villanelle." 

"  Had  anyone  but  you  told  me  that  ? "  cried 
Chaudoreille,  rising  in  vexation.  "  I  should  have 
attributed  it  to  jealousy.  But  it's  getting  late ;  it's 
been  a  tiring  day,  and  I  must  go  to  rest.  If,  how- 
ever, you  wish  me  to  remain  here  for  fear  the  sing- 
ers should  return,  I  will  sacrifice  my  repose." 

"  No,  no  ;  it's  unnecessary,"  said  the  barber, 
smiling.    "  They  won't  come  back  ;  go  to  bed." 

"You  have  no  need  of  my  services  tomorrow 
evening,  then  ? " 

"  No  —  however,  if  you  like  to  be  walking  on 
the  Pont  de  la  Tournelle  at  the  hour  agreed  on, 
you  could  at  any  rate  serve  as  a  spy  for  us." 

"  Sufficient,"  said  Chaudoreille,  pulling  his  hat 
over  his  eyes ;  "  you  can  count  on  me  in  life  and 
in  death  ;  I  shall  be  at  the  rendezvous  at  the  exact 
hour,  and  Rolande  shall  be  sharp.    Good-by  !  " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      139 

So  saying  the  chevalier  passed  through  the  pas- 
sageway into  the  alley  and  opened  the  door  of  the 
house.  He  thrust  his  head  out  into  the  street, 
and,  after  glancing  cautiously  to  the  right  and  left, 
went  on  his  way  like  a  stag  who  hears  the  sound 
of  the  chase. 


CHAPTER  IX 
The  Closet.     The  Abduction 

As  everything  coheres,  everything  is  connected 
in  this  lower  world,  there  is  no  chance ;  but  there 
are  many  rebounds  which  transmit  from  one  to 
another  events,  effects,  for  which  we  bless  or  curse 
fate,  —  as  they  are  fortunate  or  unfortunate,  — 
instead  of  tracing  them  to  their  original  causes, 
from  which,  in  truth,  we  are  sometimes  removed 
so  far  as  to  have  no  cognizance  of  them. 

Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  our  young  Urbain 
had  blessed  chance  on  perceiving  that  the  light 
was  still  burning  in  Blanche's  room ;  but  if  the 
young  girl  had  not  gone  to  rest  it  was  not  by 
chance,  but  because  Marguerite  could  not  decide 
to  go  up  to  bed  in  her  new  room  before  know- 
ing where  the  little  door  in  the  back  of  her  alcove 
led. 

Now  if  the  garrulous  old  maidservant  had  not 
confessed  to  her  master  that  she  had  witnessed  his 
nightly  vigils,  the  latter  would  not  have  made  her 
change  her  lodging ;  and  the  fear  which  induced 
him  to  do  so  was  due  to  other  causes  still  more  re- 
mote ;  thus,  by  a  series  of  events,  Marguerite's  gos- 
sip had  led  to  Blanche's  hearing  Urbain's  sweet  and 

140 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       141 

tender  voice  sing  the  romance  which  had  so  en- 
chanted her  in  the  morning. 

"Yes,  mademoiselle,"  said  the  old  woman,  some 
moments  before  the  young  lover  began  to  sing, 
"  I  know  I  should  die  of  fright  if  I  should  have 
to  sleep  alone  in  that  horrid  room,  formerly  inhab- 
ited by  a  magician,  without  knowing  where  that 
little  door  leads  to  —  perhaps  into  that  Odoard's 
laboratory.  Who  knows  whether  he  isn't  still 
there  ?  These  sorcerers  are  sometimes  shut  up  by 
themselves  for  half  a  century,  searching  for  secrets 
which  will  enable  them  to  give  human  kind  into 
the  hands  of  the  devil.  I  am  sure  that  M.  Tou- 
quet,  who  is  very  indifferent  in  regard  to  every- 
thing pertaining  to  sorcerers,  has  not  once  been 
into  that  room.  Let  me  pass  the  night  in  your 
room,  my  child;  tomorrow,  when  it's  daylight, 
we'll  go  together  and  open  that  door,  since  the 
Chevalier  Chaudoreille  wasn't  polite  enough  to  do 
so.  I  can  pass  the  night  in  this  easy  chair ;  I  shall 
be  much  better  here  than  upstairs,  and  I  can  tell 
you  some  interesting  stories  before  you  go  to 
sleep." 

Blanche  could  not  refuse  Marguerite  what  she 
asked  as  a  favor  ;  the  old  woman  was  relating  her 
third  story  of  sorcery,  and  the  young  girl,  who 
felt  that  her  eyes  were  growing  heavy,  was  about 
to  go  to  bed,  when  the  sounds  of  a  guitar  were 
heard. 

Blanche  listened,  and  made  a  sign  to  Marguerite 


142         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

to  be  silent,  and  soon  recognized  with  delight  the 
air  which  she  was  desirous  of  learning.  There  is 
something  sweeter,  more  seductive,  in  music  thus 
heard  in  the  middle  of  the  night ;  it  finds  its  way- 
more  quickly  to  the  heart.  Urbain's  voice  was 
flexible  and  melodious.  Blanche,  transported,  re- 
mained motionless,  as  though  she  feared  by  a 
single  movement  to  lose  a  sound,  while  Marguer- 
ite, gaping  with  astonishment,  looked  at  the  en- 
gaging child  without  appearing  greatly  enchanted 
with  the  music.  But  Marguerite  was  more  than 
sixty  years  old,  and  music  had  not  the  same  effect 
upon  her  as  upon  Blanche ;  the  sounds  reached 
no  farther  than  her  ears,  while  they  vibrated  de- 
liciously  in  the  depths  of  the  heart  of  sixteen. 

Very  soon,  however,  the  noise  which  they  heard 
in  the  street  put  an  end  to  Blanche's  happiness; 
she  recognized  the  barber's  voice,  and  the  threats 
which  he  pronounced  made  her  tremble,  as  well  as 
Marguerite,  who  cried  immediately,  — 

"  Go  to  bed  !  go  to  bed  quickly,  my  child,  and 
extinguish  the  light ;  if  M.  Touquet  sees  that  we 
are  still  awake,  if  he  should  find  me  in  here^ 

0  holy  blessed  Virgin  !  I  shall  be  lost." 

"  But  why  is  he  so  angry  ?  "  said  Blanche.  "  Is 
singing  in  the  streets  in  the  evenings  forbidden  ? 

1  was  so  pleased  to  hear  that  romance.  What 
harm  was  the  young  man  doing?  —  for  it  was  a 
young  man  who  was  singing  —  was  it  not,  dear 
nurse  ?    It  was  not  the  voice  of  an  old  man,  and. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      143 

oh,  how  well  he  sang!  I  have  never  heard  such 
a  pretty  voice;  it  had  a  singular  effect  on  me; 
it  made  my  heart  beat  with  pleasure  —  didn't  it 
yours.  Marguerite  ? " 

Marguerite,  whose  heart  was  beating  only  with 
fear,  contented  herself  with  repeating,  "  Go  to 
bed  quickly,  put  out  the  lamp,  and  above  all  don't 
say  tomorrow  that  you  heard  the  singing;  that 
would  prove  that  you  were  not  yet  asleep,  and 
M.  Touquet  wishes  everyone  to  go  to  sleep  as 
soon  as  they  go  to  bed." 

Since  It  was  necessary  to  yield  to  the  insistence 
of  the  old  servant,  Blanche  went  to  bed,  but  she 
did  not  go  to  sleep  ;  the  young  singer's  voice  still 
seemed  to  ring  in  her  ears,  and  on  hearing  the  least 
sound  in  the  street  she  imagined  that  it  was  the 
musician  again.  As  to  Marguerite,  after  putting 
out  the  lamp,  she  extended  herself  in  an  armchair 
near  the  fire  and  fell  asleep,  murmuring  a  prayer 
to  drive  away  evil  spirits. 

The  morning  after  this  night,  so  fertile  with 
events,  Blanche  arose  early.  She  was  pensive,  pre- 
occupied, still  dreaming  of  the  young  singer's 
voice ;  she  felt  new  desires,  and  sighed  as  she 
glanced  toward  the  street.  Marguerite  ran  to  her 
work,  saying  to  Blanche,  — 

"  When  monsieur  is  most  busily  engaged  with 
his  customers,  we'll  go  up  together  into  my  room ; 
but,  my  child,  above  all  don't  say  anything  about 
the  music." 


144         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Blanche  promised  her,  saying,  "Why  should 
he  be  angry  because  somebody  came  to  sing  such 
a  pretty  air  under  our  windows  ? " 

The  barber  said  nothing  to  the  young  girl  about 
the  adventure  of  the  night ;  he  contented  himself 
with  observing  Blanche,  and  the  lovely  child,  re- 
membering the  threats  which  she  had  overheard 
him  utter  against  the  singer,  had  no  desire  to  chat; 
she  hastened  to  return  to  her  chamber,  where  Mar- 
guerite was  not  long  in  coming  to  rejoin  her. 

"  Now  is  the  time,"  said  the  old  servant; "mon- 
sieur has  a  good  many  people  to  shave.  Come, 
my  child  ;  come  up  with  me,  and  above  all  don't 
be  frightened ;  I  have  taken  every  precaution  ne- 
cessary to  drive  away  the  goblins." 

"  Frightened  !  "  said  Blanche,  because  she  saw 
that  Marguerite  was  trembling.  "  No,  dear  nurse, 
no;  I  assure  you  that  I'm  not  thinking  of  your 
secret  door  at  all." 

Thus  saying,  Blanche  darted  lightly  up  the 
stairs,  while  Marguerite  followed  her  more  slowly, 
saying,  "  Happy  age  when  one  has  no  fear  of 
magicians,  because  one  does  not  understand  all 
their  wickedness,  —  it  is  true  that  she  has  a  talis- 
man." 

When  they  reached  the  room,  Blanche  entered 
quickly,  while  the  old  woman  made  a  genuflexion 
and  invoked  her  patron  saint,  after  which  she  de- 
cided also  to  go  into  her  new  room,  throwing 
anxious  glances  about  her.    Blanche  had  run  into 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      145 

the  alcove  and  already  drawn  the  bed  into  the 
middle  of  the  room. 

"Wait  a  moment;  don't  be  so  imprudent," 
cried  Marguerite  to  her.  "Is  it  necessary  to  do 
things  so  quickly  ?  " 

**  But,  dear  nurse,  the  sooner  we  open  that  door, 
the  sooner  you'll  be  reassured." 

"  Reassured !  that's  what  I  wish.  Have  you 
your  talisman,  my  darling?" 

"  Of  course  I  have.  Didn't  you  sew  it  yourself 
inside  my  corsets  ?  " 

"  That's  true." 

"  I  don't  see  the  door  you  were  talking  about." 

"  It  is  so  well  encased  in  the  woodwork." 

«  Ah,  here  it  is  !  " 

"  Wait  a  moment,  mademoiselle,  while  I  throw 
some  holy  water  before  it." 

"  But  there's  no  key  ;  how  can  we  open  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  we  must  try.  I  have  several  keys  that 
I  have  picked  up  while  cleaning  the  house,  per- 
haps one  of  those  will  open  it." 

Marguerite  advanced  tremblingly  towards  the 
end  of  the  alcove.  She  drew  from  her  pocket  half 
a  dozen  rusty  keys  of  different  sizes,  and  was  about 
to  try  one  of  them,  but  her  hand  shook  and  she 
could  not  find  the  keyhole.  Blanche  seized  one 
key  and  tried  it  unsuccessfully,  then  a  second ;  but 
at  the  third  the  young  girl  uttered  a  cry  of  joy,  for 
the  key  turned,  and  Marguerite  crossed  herself, 
murmuring,  — 

Vol.  VII 


146         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  O  my  God,  the  door  is  opening  !  " 

In  fact,  the  door  yielded  to  Blanche's  effort  and 
opened,  creaking  and  groaning  on  its  hinges,  and 
the  two  women  beheld  a  square  closet ;  but,  as  it 
received  no  light  except  from  the  little  door  that 
opened  into  it,  and  as  that  door  led  into  a  dark 
alcove,  one  may  conceive  that  there  was  little  day- 
light there.  Blanche  remained  on  the  doorsill  and 
Marguerite  recoiled  a  few  steps,  saying, — 

"  See  now,  my  child ;  I  was  right  in  thinking 
that  that  door  led  somewhere.  Oh,  this  is  as  dark 
as  a  cave." 

"  Let  us  go  in  here,  nurse." 

"  But  not  without  a  light,  I  hope.  Wait ;  I  will 
go  and  light  my  lamp.  I  don't  know  that  it  is 
prudent  of  us  to  enter  this  closet." 

"  But,  Marguerite,  you  see  very  well  that  there 
is  nobody  here." 

"  I  can  see  nothing  except  darkness.  Wait ; 
take  the  lamp,  and  you  go  first,  my  darling ;  you 
have  your  talisman  ;  nothing  will  happen  to  you." 

Blanche  entered  first ;  she  seemed  more  curious 
than  alarmed,  while  the  old  woman  could  scarcely 
persuade  herself  to  follow.  The  closet  was  six 
feet  square,  and  held  nothing  but  two  big  empty 
chests  placed  on  the  floor,  which  time  had  covered 
with  dust  and  spiders'  webs. 

"  Well  now,  my  dear  nurse,"  said  Blanche,  smil- 
ing, "  where  are  the  sorcerers  ?  I  don't  see  any- 
thing frightful  here." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       147 

"  In  fact,"  answered  Marguerite,  glancing  all 
about  her ;  "  there's  nothing  but  four  walls,  no 
other  door,  and  these  two  chests  are  empty.  I'm 
sure  that  no  one  has  disturbed  this  place  for  half 
a  century.  No  matter ;  I  swear  to  you  that  I  shall 
not  come  back  here  again.  I  don't  know  why  I 
feel  so  uneasy  here.  How  the  floor  creaks  under 
our  feet ! " 

"  It's  because  no  one  has  walked  here  for  a  long 
time  ;  this  house  is  old." 

"  Come,  my  dear  child,  let  us  leave  this  closet ; 
I  shall  shut  the  door  and  double-lock  it,  and  I 
shan't  open  it  again  while  I  stay  in  this  room." 

Thus  saying.  Marguerite  pushed  Blanche  be- 
fore her,  then  closed  the  little  door  and  double- 
locked  it,  murmuring  between  her  teeth, 

"  Alas !  if  some  sorcerer  should  wish  to  open 
the  door  that  lock  would  not  resist  him;  but  every 
night  I  shall  cross  my  shovel  and  tongs  before  it." 

This  visit  terminated,  Blanche  went  down, 
humming  to  herself  the  romance  of  the  evening 
before,  and  Marguerite  returned  to  her  work. 

The  barber  had  ordered  dinner  early ;  and  at 
six  o'clock  in  the  evening  he  left  the  house,  re- 
peating to  Marguerite : 

"  Redouble  your  watchfulness,  do  not  allow  any 
man  to  go  near  Blanche  without  my  permission, 
and  inform  me  if  you  hear  anyone  singing  in  the 
street." 

The  old  woman  promised  to  obey,    Touquet 


148         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

wrapped  his  mantle  about  him  and  left  to  exe- 
cute the  marquis'  plan.  As  he  was  accustomed  to 
conduct  similar  intrigues,  he  knew  where  to  pro- 
cure everything  that  was  necessary  ;  and  at  a  quar- 
ter to  eight  he  was  on  the  Pont  de  la  Tournelle, 
while  about  a  hundred  feet  from  him  two  men 
awaited  his  orders  near  a  travelling-chaise  drawn 
by  two  horses. 

For  a  long  time  Chaudoreille  had  been  walking 
on  the  bridge.  Fearing  to  miss  the  rendezvous, 
given  for  eight  o'clock,  he  had  arrived  at  six;  bury- 
ing his  head  between  his  shoulders  and  hiding  his 
chin  under  his  little  mantle,  he  tried  to  give  himself 
the  air  of  a  conspirator.  With  his  left  hand  on 
Rolande's  handle  and  the  other  holding  his  man- 
tle, he  walked  sometimes  slowly  and  sometimes 
with  a  precipitant  step ;  and  every  time  that  any- 
one passed  him  he  did  not  fail  to  murmur,  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  be  heard,  — 

"How  late  she  is  in  coming  !  What  can  keep 
her  ?  I  am  burning !  I  am  bursting !  I  shall  die 
with  impatience." 

As  soon  as  he  saw  Touquet  he  ran  to  him  and 
pulled  the  edge  of  his  mantle;  then,  looking  to  see 
if  anybody  was  passing,  he  said  to  him  in  a  mys- 
terious tone, — 

"  Here  I  am." 

"  Well,  hang  it,  I  see  you !  "  said  the  barber, 
shrugging  his  shoulders;  "  but  I'd  much  rather  see 
the  little  one." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      149 

"  She  hasn*t  appeared  yet,  I  can  answer  for  that. 
IVe  looked  in  every  woman's  face." 

"  It's  not  eight  o'clock ;  let  us  wait." 

"  Be  easy ;  I'll  go  and  put  myself  in  ambuscade 
and  examine  all  the  feminine  visages." 

"  Take  care  they  don't  slap  you ;  that  would 
draw  a  crowd,  and  wouldn't  please  me." 

**  Slap  me  1  They're  more  likely  to  kiss  me,  I 
should  say ;  but  I'll  make  a  grimace,  so  as  not  to 
tempt  them." 

And  Chaudoreille,  drawing  his  hat  down  over 
his  eyes,  departed,  taking  as  long  steps  as  his  little 
legs  would  permit. 

In  about  three  minutes  Chaudoreille  returned 
to  say  to  the  barber,  — 

**  There's  a  woman  who  has  just  come  along  by 
the  Pont  Marie,  and  who  is  going  to  pass  over  this 
bridge." 

"Indeed!  Is  she  the  one  we  are  waiting  for? 
You  ought  to  know,  if  you've  peered  into  her 
face." 

"  No ;  I  wasn't  able  to  do  that  this  time,  be- 
cause she  was  giving  her  arm  to  a  man,  and  he 
would  have  been  frightened." 

"  If  she's  with  a  man  it's  not  our  young  girl ; 
one  doesn't  bring  witnesses  to  a  lovers'  meeting." 

"That's  correct,"  said  Chaudoreille,  and  he 
started  off  again. 

Some  minutes  later  he  returned  to  Touquet, 
crying,— 


I50         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Here's  another  one  who  is  coming  along  this 
way ;  but  this  one  is  alone,  I  am  sure  of  that." 

"  Is  it  our  beauty  ?  " 

"  No,  it  is  not  she." 

"You  idiot !  what  did  you  come  and  tell  me  for?" 

"  So  that  you  should  not  make  a  mistake ;  I 
thought  it  was  my  duty  to  avert  that." 

"  Chaudoreille,  do  me  the  pleasure  of  remaining 
still.  I  know  very  well  how  to  recognize  her  whom 
I  came  to  meet  without  your  help ;  although  I 
haven't  yet  seen  her,  I  am  certain  that  I  shan't 
make  a  mistake  ;  but,  hang  it !  if  she  doesn't  come 
to  this  meeting,  I  shall  send  you  to  drink  the 
water  under  the  bridge,  to  teach  you  to  do  your 
errands  better." 

Chaudoreille  had  not  heard  the  barber's  last 
words ;  he  was  already  far  away,  but  he  returned 
precipitately,  looking  scared. 

"  What  is  it  now  ?  "  said  Touquet. 

"  A  patrol  of  the  watch,  which  I  can  see  com- 
ing, and  which  is  going  to  pass  by  us." 

"  Well,  what  of  that  ?  What  has  the  watch  to 
do  with  us  ?  It's  not  forbidden  to  walk  on  the 
bridge,  and,  even  if  they  should  see  us  abduct  a 
young  girl  I  can  answer  for  it  they'll  hardly  trou- 
ble themselves  about  that." 

"  Haven't  we  a  rather  suspicious  look  ? " 

"  You  make  me  ashamed  of  you." 

"  I  shall  pretend  to  be  laughing,  to  allay  their 
suspicions." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       151 

"  Wait,  perhaps  this  will  give  you  more  cour- 
age. 

So  saying  the  barber  kicked  Chaudoreille ;  but 
the  latter  received  it  singing,  contenting  himself 
by  rubbing  the  part  attacked  while  executing  his 
trills,  because  at  that  moment  the  watch  was  pass- 
ing them.  When  the  patrol  had  departed  he 
breathed  more  freely,  and  cried, — 

**  They  have  taken  us  for  simple  troubadours/* 

"  They  should  have  taken  you  for  a  fool.  A 
plague  on  all  poltroons  !  They  are  good  for  noth- 
ing except  to  spoil  everything." 

"  I'm  not  going  to  get  angry  at  a  matter  which 
doesn't  concern  me ;  but  on  great  occasions  it 
seems  to  me  that  stratagem  is  often  better  than 
valor." 

The  barber  had  begun  to  be  impatient,  when  a 
young  woman  came  on  to  the  bridge,  walking 
slowly  and  glancing  from  time  to  time  about  her. 
Chaudoreille  had  not  perceived  her,  because  he  was 
in  ambuscade  at  the  side  of  the  Ruedes  Deux-Ponts. 

Touquet  approached  the  unknown,  looked  at 
her  and  saw  that  this  really  was  the  young  girl 
whom  the  marquis  had  depicted  ;  for  her  part,  the 
damsel  looked  attentively  at  the  barber,  and 
seemed  to  wait  for  him  to  address  her  in  words. 

"  Are  you  not  the  Signora  Julia  ? "  said  the  bar- 
ber in  a  bass  voice,  approaching  the  young  girl. 

"  And  you  the  barber  Touquet  ?  "  answered  she, 
lifting  to  him  her  animated  black  eyes. 


152         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  barber  was  surprised  at  hearing  himself 
named  by  a  person  to  whom  he  believed  himself 
unknown,  but,  after  having  considered  the  young 
girl  anew,  he  resumed, — 

"  Since  you  know  me,  you  should  also  know 
that  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle  has  sent  me  to  you." 

"The  marquis  is  rather  ungallant,"  answered 
Julia,  "  in  not  coming  himself  to  a  first  meeting." 

"  These  great  noblemen  are  not  the  masters  of 
their  time ;  besides,  the  marquis  has  no  desire  to 
converse  with  you  about  his  love  on  this  bridge." 

"  Preferring,  no  doubt,  his  little  house  of  the 
Faubourg  Saint-Antoine  ?  " 

"It  seems  to  me,  signora,  that  you  are  very  well 
acquainted  with  everything  that  concerns  the  mar- 
quis ;  after  that  I  have  nothing  more  to  tell  you, 
except  that  a  carriage  is  waiting  a  hundred  feet 
from  here." 

"  Very  well,  let  us  go." 

"  The  deuce  ! "  said  the  barber  to  himself,  offer- 
ing his  arm  to  Julia,  that  he  might  conduct  her  to 
the  coach ;  "  here  is  a  young  girl  who  doesn't  make 
a  bit  of  fuss  about  allowing  herself  to  be  abducted. 
But  I  must  confess  that  there's  something  in  her 
voice  and  manners  very  decided  and  piquant, 
which  astonishes  as  well  as  pleases." 

They  had  reached  the  carriage  when  Chaudo-. 
reille's  voice  was  heard ;  he  ran  after  the  barber, 
crying,— 

"  There's  a  woman  coming  by  the  side  of  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      153 

Porte  dc  la  Tournelle ;  it  is  our  little  one ;  I  recog- 
nized her  walk." 

Saying  these  words,  Chaudoreille  perceived  that 
the  barber  was  conducting  a  person  to  whom  he 
had  given  his  arm, 

"  How  is  this  ?  What  does  this  mean  ?  Must 
I  believe  my  eyes  ?  "  cried  the  chevalier.  "  That's 
our  beauty,  and  what  the  deuce  way  did  she  come  ? 
No  matter;  we've  got  her;  that's  the  essential 
thing.    I  will  protect  your  walk." 

Chaudoreille  then  drew  his  sword,  and,  giving 
no  ear  to  the  barber,  who  bade  him  depart,  ran 
up  to  the  carriage,  crying  to  the  two  men  who  were 
near,  — 

"  My  friends,  here  they  are.  Be  adroit,  be  cour- 
ageous. By  jingo  !  she  must  enter  your  vehicle, 
willingly  or  by  force." 

Somebody  opened  the  door,  and  Chaudoreille 
was  a  little  surprised  at  seeing  the  young  person 
trip  first  into  the  carriage.  He  was  about  to  do 
the  same,  and  seat  himself  near  her,  when  Tou- 
quet,  taking  him  by  the  breeches,  dropped  him 
on  all-fours  on  the  pavement,  and,  following  Julia 
into  the  carriage,  said  to  the  coachman, — 

"  Go  on  !  " 

"  What  the  deuce !  he's  going  to  abduct  her 
without  me,"  said  Chaudoreille,  picking  himself 
up.  "  No,  not  by  all  the  devils  1  It  shall  not  be 
said  that  I  did  not  finish  this  adventure  ;  besides, 
they've  only  given  me  something  on  account,  and 


154         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

I  should  like  to  be  settled  with  before  the  marquis 
gets  tired  of  the  little  one." 

Chaudoreille  immediately  darted  after  the  car- 
riage ;  accustomed  to  running,  he  caught  up  with 
it,  mounted  behind,  and  allowed  himself  to  be 
drawn  at  a  great  gallop,  taking  care  to  hold  tightly 
to  the  tassels,  which  served  to  support  him. 


CHAPTER  X 
The  Little  House.     A  New  Game 

The  carriage  bearing  the  barber  and  Julia  had 
soon  passed  the  Porte  Saint-Antoine,  which  at 
that  period  had  not  attained  the  dignity  of  the 
Faubourg,  but  was  in  a  neighborhood  where  the 
road  is  cut  by  the  boulevards,  and  which  served 
frequently,  as  did  all  thinly  inhabited  districts  at 
the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  for  a  meeting- 
place  for  robbers,  vagabonds,  pages,  lackeys  and 
cut-purses. 

The  marquis*  little  house  was  situated  near  the 
Vallec  dc  Fecamp,  which  today  is  replaced  by  a 
street  bearing  the  same  name,  and  making  the 
continuation  of  the  Rue  de  la  Planchette.  Cross- 
ing this  unlighted  place  of  evil  fame  in  the  middle 
of  the  night  was,  at  that  time,  to  expose  one*s 
self  to  as  much  danger  as  though  passing  through 
the  forest  of  Bondy.  However,  many  noblemen 
had  chosen  this  quarter  for  the  theatre  of  their 
gallantries.  They  possessed  small  houses  there, 
their  ordinary  meeting-places  in  their  love  in- 
trigues, and  often  went  out  incognito,  but  always 
well  armed. 

The  carriage  stopped  before  an  enclosing  wall ; 


156         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Chaudoreille  looked  about  him  on  all  sides.  The 
house  was  isolated,  and  the  wall  which  enclosed 
the  garden  appeared  unbroken,  but  Touquet  had 
already  alighted  from  the  carriage ;  he  approached 
a  small  door  which  the  chevalier  had  not  per- 
ceived, and  rang  a  bell.  Before  any  one  could 
come  to  open  it  Chaudoreille  had  left  the  place 
which  he  had  occupied,  and  had  offered  his  hand 
to  Julia  to  assist  her  in  alighting  from  the  car- 
riage. 

The  door  was  immediately  opened  by  a  man 
servant,  who  appeared  holding  a  lantern  in  his 
hand,  and,  merely  glancing  at  the  carriage  and  at 
the  damsel  who  was  getting  out  of  it,  he  con- 
tented himself  with  smiling  and  making  a  low 
bow  to  the  barber. 

"Your  master  has  warned  you  that  we  were 
coming  ? "  said  Touquet  to  this  person  in  a  low 
voice. 

"Yes,  monsieur,"  answered  the  servant,  "  I  am 
waiting  for  you." 

Here  the  barber,  upon  turning  around  to  intro- 
duce Julia  to  the  lackey  perceived  for  the  first 
time  the  redoubtable  Chaudoreille,  who  stood 
bolt  upright  before  the  door  with  his  sword  in  his 
hand,  as  though  he  were  a  sentinel  on  guard. 
The  barber  shrugged  his  shoulders  impatiently, 
and,  after  handing  Julia  in,  he  unceremoniously 
dragged  the  chevalier  by  his  mantle,  and  made 
him  also  pass  into  the  garden,  saying, — 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       157 

**  Since  you  have  followed  us  here,  it  is  neces- 
sary that  you  should  do  something  for  us." 

"  That  is  my  duty,  by  jingo,"  responded  the 
chevalier,  while  Touquet  redosed  the  garden  gate, 
after  having  said  to  the  two  men  who  were  near 
the  coach, — 

"  Wait  for  me." 

They  followed  along  a  tiled  passageway  which 
led  to  the  house.  The  garden  was  gloomy.  The 
servant  who  carried  the  lantern  walked  in  front, 
and  Chaudoreille,  who  found  himself  the  last, 
glanced  from  time  to  time  anxiously  from  right  to 
left ;  he  wished  to  open  the  conversation,  and  had 
already  exclaimed,  "This  garden  appears  to  be 
very  large,"  when  the  barber  turned  and  ordered 
him  to  keep  silent.  To  indemnify  himself  for  this 
forced  silence,  Chaudoreille,  who  was  still  holding 
Rolande  naked  in  his  hand,  struck  every  tree  that 
he  met. 

They  arrived  at  the  house  and  entered  a  vesti- 
bule, at  the  end  of  which  was  a  staircase,  while  to 
the  right  and  the  left  doors  led  to  the  apartments 
on  the  ground  floor. 

Julia,  who  had  followed  her  conductors  without 
speaking,  appeared  to  examine  attentively  every- 
thing that  presented  itself  to  her.  Chaudoreille, 
finding  himself  near  the  man  with  the  lantern,  ut- 
tered a  cry  of  surprise,  saying,  — 

"  Why,  what  the  deuce !  I  can't  be  mistaken. 
It  is  Marcel,  one  of  my  old  friends.    Don't  you 


158         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

know  me  ?  I  am  Chaudoreille ;  we  spent  six 
months  in  prison  together,  but  it  was  for  a  mere 
trifle.    I  left  it  as  white  as  snow." 

"  Be  silent,  idiots,"  cried  the  barber ;  "  you  can 
make  your  greetings  a  little  later.  Where  is  ma- 
dame's  apartment  ? " 

"On  the  first  floor,"  answered  Marcel, putting 
his  hand  in  Chaudoreille's,  who  shook  it  as  if  he 
had  found  his  best  friend. 

"  Lead  us,"  said  Touquet,  "  and  you  remain 
here." 

The  latter  part  of  this  order  was  addressed  to 
the  chevalier  and  it  did  not  affbrd  him  much 
pleasure ;  but  he  was  forced  to  obey.  However, 
when  Chaudoreille  perceived  that  there  was  no 
light  in  the  vestibule  where  they  left  him,  and 
where  he  found  himself  in  the  most  complete  ob- 
scurity, he  ascended  several  steps  of  the  stairs, 
crying  in  a  quivering  voice,  — 

"  Don't  leave  me  alone  here.  The  night  is  chilly 
and  I  am  afraid  of  taking  cold." 

Marcel  led  Julia  and  the  barber  and,  after  mak- 
ing them  pass  through  several  rooms,  lighted  only 
by  his  lantern,  opened  a  door,  saying, — 

"  Here  is  the  room  in  which  madame  can  rest 
herself." 

Julia  could  not  restrain  an  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise, and  the  barber  himself  was  lost  in  admira- 
tion. The  room  which  they  had  entered  was 
lighted  by  a  lustre  hung  from  the  ceiling,  and  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       159 

light  of  many  wax  candles  permitted  one  to  admire 
the  luxury  with  which  this  place  was  decorated. 
Delightful  paintings  of  seductive  and  voluptuous 
figures  ornamented  the  wainscot.  The  furniture 
was  upholstered  in  light  blue,  where  silk  and  sil- 
ver were  blended  with  art.  There  were  Venetian 
glasses,  Persian  carpets,  candelabras  in  which  per- 
fumes were  burning,  while  natural  flowers  were 
disposed  elsewhere,  in  pyramids,  in  crystal  vases. 
The  whole  combination  tended  to  make  a  sojourn 
in  this  place  a  delight,  for  here  was  united  every- 
thing that  would  intoxicate  the  senses  and  inspire 
pleasure. 

Julia  and  the  barber  had  entered  the  lighted 
room ;  Marcel  remained  respectfully  at  the  door 
and  seemed  to  wait  some  orders. 

"  This  place  is  delightful,"  said  Julia ;  "  but  I 
do  not  see  the  marquis." 

"  You  will  see  him  soon,  madame,"  answered 
Touquet;  "in  an  hour  he  will  be  here.  While 
awaiting  him  you  can  ask  for  everything  that  is 
agreeable  to  you.  Your  desires  will  be  accom- 
plished immediately.  This  bell  communicates 
with  the  floor  below.    Is  not  that  so.  Marcel  ? " 

"  Yes,  monsieur,  and  if  madame  would  like  to 
take  something,  I  have  prepared  a  collation  in  the 
little  neighboring  room." 

Marcel  indicated  a  door  hidden  by  a  mirror. 
The  barber  pushed  it  and  they  saw  a  second  room, 
smaller  but  equally  well  lighted,  and  decorated 


i6o         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

with  as  much  magnificence,  only  the  furniture  and 
the  hangings  were  of  poppy-colored  velvet,  orna- 
mented with  fringes  of  gold,  while  light  blue  and 
silver  were  the  only  colors  in  the  first. 

"  He  did  not  deceive  me,"  said  Touquet  to 
himself,  glancing  into  the  second  room,  "  when  he 
said  that  he  had  made  an  enchanting  bower  of 
this  house.  What  luxury !  What  magnificence ! 
How  much  money  he  must  have  spent  to  do  all 
this !   And  yet  he  is  not  happy." 

Julia  had  thrown  herself  on  a  lounge  and  ap- 
peared thoughtful.  The  barber  bowed  to  her,  and, 
making  a  sign  to  Marcel,  left  the  apartment  with 
him. 

Marcel  was  a  bachelor  of  twenty-eight  or  thirty 
years,  short,  fat  and  cheerful ;  obedient  and  exact 
as  an  Oriental,  but  endowed  with  very  little  genius 
and  incapable  of  conducting  the  merest  intrigue. 
The  marquis,  to  whom  more  adroit,  more  active, 
more  enterprising  people  were  necessary,  but  who 
appreciated  Marcel's  faithfulness,  had  found,  in 
order  to  keep  him,  no  better  means  of  employing 
him  than  to  make  him  the  keeper  of  this  house. 
There  his  functions  were  limited  to  a  passive  obe- 
dience to  the  orders  which  he  received;  but  he 
was  a  stranger  to  all  the  intrigues  of  which  this 
abode  was  the  theatre,  and  ignored  sometimes  the 
correct  name  of  the  person  who  during  a  short 
period  was  reigning  sovereign  in  the  little  house. 
This  troubled  him  little,  and  his  indifference  was 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      i6i 

a  guarantee  of  his  discretion,  a  quality  which  in  his 
employ  was  very  necessary. 

"  You  know  Chaudoreille  ?  "  said  the  barber  to 
Marcel,  following  him  into  the  passageway  which 
led  to  the  staircase. 

"  Yes,  monsieur,"  answered  the  valet,  "  I  knew 
him  formerly  in  a  rather  unfortunate  affair,  since 
I  had  to  pass  six  months  in  prison,  and  God  knows 
if  I  was  guilty.  It  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  seven 
years  ago,  and  I  was  not  then  in  the  marquis*  ser- 
vice. I  was  drinking  in  an  inn,  and  Chaudoreille 
was  there  also ;  he  was  playing  at  piquet  with  two 
other  cavaliers,  and  they  invited  me  to  make  one 
of  their  party.  I  accepted  the  invitation.  I  played 
and  I  lost.  He  took  my  place,  put  down  some 
crowns  for  me,  saying  that  we  should  be  partners, 
and  played  with  surprising  good  fortune.  I  was 
delighted  to  see  him  win,  but  our  adversaries  pre- 
tended that  he  cheated.  Then  they  disputed,  and 
in  place  of  paying  us  wanted  to  fight  us  so  badly 
that  they  made  a  great  noise.  The  sergeants  of 
the  watch  arrived  with  their  archers  and  led  us  to 
prison,  —  Chaudoreille  and  me.  That  was  how 
we  made  acquaintance  ;  but  since  that  time  I  have 
lost  the  taste  for  playing.  I  wouldn't  touch  a  card 
now." 

"  All  the  better  for  you.  I  advise  you  to  keep 
that  resolution." 

The  barber  and  Marcel  then  went  down  the 
stairs  which  led  into  the  vestibule,  when  cries  of 

Vol.  VII 


i62         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Thief !  "  "  Beware  ! "  «  Murder !  "  came  to  their 
ears.  The  cries  came  from  the  garden,  and  Tou- 
quet  recognized  the  chevalier's  voice. 

"  What  the  devil  is  he  at  now  ? "  said  the  bar- 
ber, hurrying  his  steps,  while  Marcel  followed  him, 
repeating,  — 

"  Thieves !  That  is  singular.  However,  the 
doors  are  close  shut,  and  the  walls  of  the  garden 
are  ten  feet  high." 

Tired  of  being  without  light  in  the  vestibule, 
Chaudoreille  had  returned  into  the  garden,  where, 
since  the  moon  was  nearly  hidden  by  clouds,  one 
could  see  but  a  little  way  from  him.  The  cheva- 
lier was  singing  a  virelay  which  he  accompanied 
by  striking  Rolande  against  the  branches,  then 
barren  of  foliage.  All  of  a  sudden,  at  the  entrance 
to  some  shrubbery,  a  large  white  face  appeared 
opposite  Chaudoreille,  who  stopped  and  cried,  in 
a  faltering  voice,  — 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  " 

Nobody  answered  him,  and  he  judged  it  pru- 
dent in  place  of  repeating  his  question  to  regain 
the  house.  In  his  alarm  he  mistook  the  way,  and 
at  a  turn  in  the  alley  perceived  before  him  another 
personage,  who  held  a  club  in  his  hand,  with  which 
he  seemed  disposed  to  strike  him.  It  was  then 
that  Chaudoreille,  who  felt  his  strength  for  flight 
fail  him,  made  the  garden  echo  with  his  cries. 
Guided  by  his  voice,  the  barber  and  Marcel  were 
soon  near  him. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      163 

"  What  is  the  matter  ?  Wherefore  this  noise  ? " 
said  Touquet. 

"  Don't  you  see  that  wretch  who  is  waiting  for 
me  down  there  to  slay  me,  while  his  accomplice  is 
hidden  in  another  bush  ? " 

The  barber  turned  to  look  in  the  direction 
which  Chaudoreille  designated  with  his  hand. 
Marcel  did  likewise,  holding  the  lantern  before 
him.  Soon  the  latter  burst  into  a  shout  of  laugh- 
ter, and  the  barber  cried, — 

"  I  was  sure  that  this  clown  would  commit  some 
foolishness." 

"Why  foolishness?  Zounds!  Why  did  not 
these  people  answer  me  when  I  cried  to  them, 
*  Who  goes  there  ?  *  " 

"  That  would  be  very  difficult  for  them,**  said 
Marcel.  "  The  one  that  you  perceive  over  there 
is  Hercules  killing  the  Lernean  hydra,  and  the 
other  is  probably  Mercury  or  Mars.  Perhaps  it 
was  even  a  Venus  which  frightened  you.** 

"  Frightened  me  ?  Oh,  no.  By  jingo,  I  wasn't 
frightened;  but  they  should  warn  people  when 
they  have  an  Olympus  in  their  garden.  In  any 
case,  if  it  is  Mercury  he  can  flatter  himself  that  he 
has  received  five  or  six  strokes  from  the  flat  of 
this  sword,  and  they  weren't  given  by  a  dead 
hand.** 

"And  if  this  young  girl  heard  your  cries, 
wretch,"  said  the  barber  directing  his  steps  to- 
wards the  little  door. 


i64         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  I  do  not  think  she  could,"  said  Marcel,  "  the 
room  she  occupies  looks  out  on  the  other  side  of 
the  garden." 

The  barber  then  opened  the  door  by  which 
they  had  entered. 

"  Remain  with  Marcel,"  said  he  to  Chaudoreille. 
"  The  marquis  will  soon  be  here.  If  he  has  any 
orders  for  me  you  will  come  and  communicate 
them  to  me  immediately,  but  before  monseigncur 
you  must  be  mute.  If  the  least  word  escapes  you 
before  him,  if  you  commit  a  single  awkwardness, 
remember  I  shall  take  your  punishment  upon  my- 
self." 

So  saying,  Touquet  sprang  into  the  carriage, 
which  left  immediately.  Chaudoreille  was  pleased 
to  remain,  thinking  that  he  would  now  see  the  mar- 
quis and  could  find  a  way  to  prove  his  intelligence 
to  him.  He  took  Marcel's  arm,  remembering  that 
the  latter  had  a  very  sweet  disposition  and  was 
easily  led,  and  felicitated  himself  on  the  chance 
which  had  led  to  their  meeting.  The  barber 
alighted  when  some  steps  distant  from  his  house. 
He  paid  the  people,  sent  away  the  carriage  and 
hastened  to  enter,  for  the  marquis  would  be  there 
towards  ten  o'clock  and  it  was  not  far  from  that 
now.  Marguerite  opened  the  door  to  her  master, 
who  addressed  a  few  ordinary  questions  to  her  on 
the  subject  of  Blanche.  The  old  servant  swore  to 
her  master  that  no  man  had  spoken  to  the  young 
girl.   Touquet  sent  Marguerite  away.   He  wished 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      165 

to  wait  for  the  marquis  alone.  Ten  o'clock  had 
sounded  some  time  ago  and  the  barber,  who 
awaited  congratulations  and  a  new  recompense, 
was  beginning  to  be  astonished  at  the  lack  of 
haste  on  the  part  of  the  marquis  when,  at  last, 
somebody  knocked  at  the  street  door  and  the 
great  nobleman  entered  the  barber's  house. 

"  Hang  it,  my  poor  Touquet,  I  barely  missed 
forgetting  our  rendezvous,"  said  the  marquis, 
throwing  himself  on  a  seat. 

"  What,  monseigneur,  you  forget  a  love  afiair  ? 
That  astonishes  me,  I  confess." 

"  You  should,  however,  be  able  to  understand 
it  better  than  another.  Why  should  not  one  end 
by  tiring  of  that  which  he  does  every  day  ?  I  am 
utterly  blase  in  regard  to  these  things.  I  had,  God 
forgive  me,  totally  forgotten  the  little  one.  I  was  at 
the  Hotel  de  Bourgogne  with  Chavagnac,  Mon- 
theil  and  some  other  of  my  friends.  Turlupin, 
Gauthier-Garguille  and  Gros-Guillaume  very  much 
diverted  us.  The  rascals  are  full  of  jokes ;  they 
are  quite  the  fashion.  Everybody  is  running  to 
see  them.  They  have  created  a  furore,  above  all, 
since  they  represented  a  comical  scene  at  the  car- 
dinal's palace,  and  since  Richelieu  has  permitted 
them  to  play  at  the  Hotel  de  Bourgogne,  despite 
the  protests  of  the  comedians.  On  leaving  there 
we  went  into  an  inn ;  we  were  in  the  mood  for 
laughter ;  we  fought  with  some  little  shopkeepers 
who  disputed  the  possession  of  a  table  with  us. 


i66         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

They  shouted  like  the  devil ;  the  sergeants  of  the 
watch  came,  but  we  mentioned  our  names  in  a  low 
tone  and  the  king's  archers  helped  us  to  put  the 
rabble  out  of  the  place.  We  remained  masters  of 
the  field  of  battle ;  it  couldn't  end  otherwise.  I 
never  laughed  so  much.  Chavagnac  actually  wished 
to  eat  an  omelette  off  the  face  of  a  fat  draper ;  the 
poor  devil  made  some  horrible  grimaces  in  his 
fright ;  it  was  really  very  comical ;  he  escaped  by 
swallowing  twelve  glasses  of  brandy  one  after  the 
other ;  afterwards  we  made  him  roll  from  the  first 
story  to  the  groundfloor.  Finally,  my  dear  fel- 
low, you  can  conceive  that  with  all  this  the  little 
nut-brown  maid  went  entirely  out  of  my  head,  but 
just  then  somebody  mentioned  a  master  knave ;  I 
thought  of  you  and  that  recalled  our  rendezvous. 
Well,  now,  to  come  to  the  point,  where  do  we 
stand?" 

"  Monseigneur,  I  have  fulfilled  your  desires, 
and  for  the  past  hour  the  young  girl  has  been  at 
your  little  house." 

"  You  don't  say  so  !  What !  Is  the  affair  really 
terminated  thus  quickly.  It  doesn't  seem  as 
though  mademoiselle  had  made  many  scruples." 

"  I  must  confess,  monsieur,  that  she  got  into 
the  carriage  with  a  very  good  grace." 

"  A  little  resistance  would  have  pleased  me  bet- 
ter ;  it's  cruel  that  one  can  have  immediately  all 
that  one  desires.  These  young  girls  are  so  im- 
pressed when  one  speaks  to  them  of  a  great  noble- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      167 

man.  Fm  almost  sorry  I  have  entangled  myself 
with  this  one,  for  the  devil  carry  me  away  if  I'm 
in  love  with  her  the  least  bit  in  the  world.  For 
very  little  I'd  have  you  take  her  back  to  the  place 
you  took  her  from.  What  d'you  say,  Touquet; 
that  would  be  droll,  wouldn't  it  ? " 

The  barber,  piqued  at  the  little  pleasure  evinced 
by  the  marquis  at  his  successful  abduction  of  the 
young  girl,  answered  coldly,  — 

"  I  see  that  monseigneur  has  almost  entirely  for- 
gotten the  one  who  charmed  him  two  days  ago ; 
if  he  could  remember  her  he  would  not  show  so 
much  indifference  in  her  possession." 

"What,  is  she  really  so  beautiful?  Do  you 
think  she  is  capable  of  engaging  my  affection  for 
any  length  of  time  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  monsieur,  whether  she  will  have 
that  good  fortune  ;  but  I  have  seen  many  courte- 
sans in  the  highest  vogue  who  did  not  equal  that 
young  Italian." 

"  Is  she  an  Italian  ? " 

"  Yes,  monseigneur." 

"  All  the  better ;  that  alters  the  case  a  little." 

"  Her  name  is  Julia ;  her  face,  while  not  regu- 
larly beautiful,  has  a  nameless  something  that  is 
very  piquant  and  seductive ;  and  there  is  in  her 
voice,  in  her  manner,  in  everything  about  her, 
something  that  denotes  force  and  originality.  In 
short,  she  is  not  a  languorous  beauty,  such  as  one 
most  often  sees." 


i68         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Do  you  know,  you  pique  my  curiosity ;  come, 
tomorrow,  we'll  admire  all  this." 

"  Tomorrow !  What  monsieur,  and  the  young 
girl  is  awaiting  you  with  impatience  ?  " 

"We  must  let  her  sigh  until  then;  I  have 
promised  to  rejoin  my  friends  and  finish  the  night 
with  them.  With  people  of  honor  one  docs  not 
break  his  word  ;  the  beautiful  Julia  must  be  pa- 
tient." 

"  I  also  left  one  of  my  men  with  Marcel,  in 
case  monsieur  le  marquis  should  have  any  further 
orders  to  send  me.  I  hope  he'll  be  useful,  since 
Marcel  can't  leave  the  house." 

"  Oh,  very  well,  your  man  can  wait ;  one  can 
give  him  a  few  pistoles  more.  By  the  way,  I 
must  pay  you.  Wait!  Here's  some  gold  I  won 
at  lansquenet  this  morning.  But  time's  passing, 
I  wager  those  rascals  are  getting  impatient ;  I  must 
run  and  rejoin  them.  We  shall  have  a  delightful 
night;  we  are  in  just  the  vein  for  diversion.  We'll 
make  some  notches  in  the  good  citizens  of  Paris, 
we'll  flog  the  watch,  we'll  stop  chair  porters,  and 
I  won't  answer  for  it  that  we  don't  steal  some 
mantles  on  the  Pont-Neuf." 

The  marquis  hastily  departed  and  the  barber 
closed  his  door,  saying,  — 

"  After  all,  he  may  do  as  he  pleases  now,  since 
I  have  been  paid." 

While  this  interview  was  taking  place  in  the 
Rue  des  Bourdonnaise,  the  young  girl  whom  they 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      169 

had  left  in  the  luxurious  boudoir,  arose  from  the 
lounge  as  soon  as  those  who  brought  her  had  de- 
parted. She  approached  a  mirror  which  reflected 
the  whole  figure  ;  one  glance  sufficed  to  distract 
and  give  her  occupation.  Julia  arranged  her  hair, 
passing  her  fingers  through  it  and  re-formed  its 
ringlets  ;  she  examined  herself,  she  smiled ;  Julia 
was  a  coquette ;  so  to  some  extent  is  every  woman, 
they  say.  To  judge  whether  she  be  more  or  less 
so  it  is  only  necessary  to  count  the  minutes  that 
she  passes  before  her  mirror;  ordinarily  she  is  not 
the  prettiest  who  there  looks  at  herself  longest. 

At  last  Julia  appeared  satisfied  with  herself;  she 
left  the  mirror  and  ran  about  the  boudoir  and  into 
the  neighboring  room,  admiring  everything  which 
she  had  pretended  to  view  with  indifference  as  long 
as  anyone  could  see  her.  She  stopped  before  an 
alabaster  clock  which  bore  a  little  love.  The  hand 
pointed  nearly  to  eleven  o'clock.  Julia  sighed  and 
frowned,  and  threw  herself  into  an  easy  chair,  mur- 
muring, — 

"He  does  not  come." 

While  the  young  girl  sighingly  regarded  the 
clock,  Chaudoreille  asked  Marcel  to  lead  him  to 
the  dining-room,  saying  that  he  was  dying  of  hun- 
ger and  that  since  the  morning  he  had  been  run- 
ning in  the  service  of  monsieur  le  marquis.  Mar- 
cel hastened  to  offer  his  guest  a  good  supper,  to 
which  the  chevalier  did  full  honor.  While  eating, 
Chaudoreille   recounted   his   exploits  to  his  old 


I70         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

friend,  and  as  Marcel  listened  to  everything  in 
good  faith,  our  Gascon,  delighted  at  finding  some- 
one who  had  faith  in  his  prowess,  had  already 
killed  fifteen  rivals  and  delivered  eight  victims  of 
tyranny,  before  he  had  begun  a  second  helping. 

"  Old  fellow,"  said  Marcel,  opening  his  eyes 
wide,  and  helping  himself  to  drink,  "  it  seems  to 
me  that  you  have  a  hot  head." 

"  Hot  ?  By  jingo,  say  boiling ;  say  volcanic. 
It  is  not  my  fault,  but  I  can't  be  moderate.  I  am 
a  rake  of  honor,  a  real  devil ;  that  is  the  word." 

"  But  why  did  you  call  for  help  against  the 
statues  in  the  garden  ? " 

"  Listen,  my  dear  Marcel :  At  first  I  could  not 
see  that  they  were  statues,  and  when  one  is  brave 
one  believes  that  one  sees  robbers  everywhere; 
you  don't  understand  that,  because  you  are  cool- 
blooded,  and,  besides  that,  you  can  very  well  un- 
derstand that  I  could  not  allow  myself  to  kill  any- 
body in  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle's  house  without 
having  asked  permission." 

"  Hush,  no  one  names  the  marquis  here." 

"Ah,  I  understand.  That  is  correct.  It  is  neces- 
sary to  have  some  mystery.  Hang  it !  This  is  the 
abode  of  love  incognito.  Say,  Marcel,  have  you 
been  living  long  in  this  house  ? " 

"  Nearly  five  years." 

"  You  must  have  seen  some  beauties." 

"  I  have  seen  nothing,  for  here  it  Is  necessary 
to  see  and  not  to  see." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      171 

"  I  understand  very  well.  What  the  deuce  do 
you  take  me  for,  a  caitiff?  That  is  all  right.  You 
have  a  golden  place.  The  marquis  is  generous,  is 
he  not?" 

"  Yes." 

"  You  earn  at  least  twenty  pistoles  a  year." 

«  Double  that." 

"  Fortunate  rascal.  When  I  say  rascal,  you  are 
the  most  perfectly  honest  man  that  I  know.  I  even 
believe  that  you  are  the  only  one  that  I  know. 
Good  old  Marcel !  I  am  very  much  pleased  to  have 
met  you  again.  I  have  looked  for  you  all  over,  in 
the  gambling  houses  and  in  the  gambling  hells 
even." 

"  Oh,  I  have  not  played  for  a  long  time." 

"Nonsense,  you  are  joking." 

"  No,  since  our  adventure  I  have  lost  my  taste 
for  playing.  To  go  to  prison  when  one  is  inno- 
cent is  very  disagreeable." 

"  Oh,  well,  old  fellow,  there  are  a  good  many 
thieves  who  don't  go  and  that  makes  the  balance 
correct.  As  for  me,  I  confess  that  I  still  play.  It 
amuses  me.  Besides,  it  is  the  pleasure  of  a  great 
nobleman,  and  there  is  nothing  more  noble  than 
to  play  and  lose  right  down  to  your  boots." 

"  Since  I  am  only  a  valet  I  have  no  need  of  fol- 
lowing that  fashion." 

**  You  are  wrong.  It  is  always  necessary  to  fol- 
low the  great.  You  played  a  very  strong  game  of 
piquet." 


172         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Me  ?  Oh,  on  the  contrary,  I  am  a  very  weak 
player." 

"  Pure  modesty.  Hang  it !  I  wish  I  could  take 
a  lesson  from  you.  We  have  had  our  supper. 
While  waiting  for  your  master  to  come,  let  us  play 
a  game  to  pass  the  time." 

"That  will  be  very  difficult,  for  we  have  no 
cards  here.  When  by  chance  I  have  found  some 
upstairs  which  have  been  left  by  my  master  and 
his  friends  I  have  burned  or  sold  them." 

**  That  is  very  awkward ;  and  I,  who  have 
nearly  always  a  pack  in  my  pocket,  necessarily  left 
mine  at  home." 

"  Wait,  Chaudoreille  !  taste  this  liqueur.  That 
will  be  much  better  than  playing." 

Thus  saying.  Marcel  filled  two  glasses  with 
creme  de  vanille  and  placed  one  before  his  com- 
rade. 

"  Yes,  I  am  very  fond  of  liqueur,"  said  Chau- 
doreille. "This  has  an  exquisite  perfume.  We 
could  have  drunk  and  played  at  the  same  time." 

"  But  I  tell  you  that  I  have  not  any  cards." 

"  You  have  some  dice,  at  least." 

"  No  more  than  I  have  cards." 

"  Mercy !  Some  dominoes  ? " 

"  Nothing  to  play  with,  I  tell  you." 

"  Devil  stifle  you !  How  shall  we  pass  the  time 
without  playing  ?  Oh,  what  a  delightful  idea !  I 
have  thought  of  a  very  agreeable  little  game  which 
you  wfll  easily  understand.   You  have  before  you 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       173 

a  full  glass  of  liqueur  and  I  have  the  same.  They 
are  of  equal  size ;  I  will  play  you  a  crown  on  the 
first  fly." 

"What  fly?  "said  Marcel. 

"  Listen  now.  There  are  a  good  many  flies  in 
this  room,  and  he  whose  glass  is  first  visited  by  one 
of  them  will  win  a  crown  from  the  other.  Is  it 
agreed  ? " 

"  That  is  a  droll  game,  but  I  like  it  well  enough." 

**  In  that  case  let's  shake  hands  on  it.  That 
settled,  attend  to  our  play." 

Chaudoreille  no  longer  budged.  With  his  eyes 
fixed  attentively  on  his  own  glass  and  that  of  his 
adversary,  he  waited  impatiently  for  a  fly  to  come 
and  taste  the  sweet  liqueur.  Neither  of  them  made 
a  movement,  for  fear  of  frightening  the  winged 
insects.  They  had  already  remained  motionless 
for  five  minutes  before  their  glasses  when  Marcel 
sneezed. 

"The  devil  confound  you?"  cried  Chaudo- 
reille. "  You  drove  away  the  most  beautiful  fly 
which  was  approaching  my  glass.  She  was  just 
going  in." 

"  Is  it  my  fault  if  I  feel  a  desire  to  sneeze?  " 

"  It  is  a  trick,  my  dear  fellow,  and,  in  all  con- 
science, you  should  lose  the  game. 

"You  are  joking,  no  doubt." 

"  Well  I  will  pass  over  the  sneeze,  but  if  you 
begin  again  that  will  count.  Wait !  The  flies  are 
coming." 


174         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

They  observed  silence  anew.  From  time  to 
time  Chaudoreille  looked  into  the  air  and  seemed 
to  implore  the  flies  to  come  and  taste  his  liqueur. 
At  last,  after  some  minutes  of  waiting,  a  fly  sipped 
from  Marcel's  glass. 

"  I  have  won,"  cried  the  latter. 

"  One  moment,"  said  Chaudoreille,  spitefully 
stamping  his  foot.  "  Leave  me  to  judge  of  this 
aflrair." 

"It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  nothing  equivo- 
cal about  it.   The  fly  is  still  in  my  glass." 

"  But  I  am  anxious  to  know  if  it  is  really  a  fly. 
I  am  not  going  to  lose  a  crown  for  a  pig  in  a 
poke." 

Chaudoreille  arose  and  advanced  his  head,  that 
he  might  look  more  closely  into  the  glass  which 
was  before  Marcel,  but  no  sooner  had  he  by  this 
movement  approached  his  host  than  he  cried, 
carrying  his  hand  to  his  nose, — 

"  The  game  is  off.  There  is  nothing  more  to 
be  done." 

"  This  is  to  say,"  cried  Marcel,  in  his  turn  ris- 
ing from  the  table. 

"  I  repeat,  the  game  is  oflT. " 

"  And  why  ?  " 

"  Why,  by  jingo,  because  your  breath  is  strong 
enough  to  make  flies  fall  in  their  flight.  After 
that  you  see  the  game  is  not  equal." 

"  Chaudoreille,  I  will  take  the  thing  as  a  joke, 
and  I  don't  care  about  winning  your  money,  but 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      175 

I  flatter  myself  that  I  have  a  breath  at  least  as  fresh 
as  yours." 

"  Take  the  thing  as  a  joke  ? "  said  the  chevalier, 
putting  his  hand  on  the  handle  of  his  sword.  "  Do 
you  wish  to  vex  me  ?    By  jingo,  if  I  had  known." 

"  Come,  come,  calm  yourself." 

"  Do  you  think  I  will  suflfer  such  injuries.  By 
Rolande,  I  don't  know  how  to  hold  myself." 

"  Will  you  soon  be  done  ?  " 

"  By  George  !  If  I  believed  that  you  wish  to 
molest  me,  as  if  I  care  about  a  crown ;  if  I  had 
lost  a  hundred  I  should  have  paid  you  just  the 
same." 

"  That  is  all  right.    Leave  all  that." 

The  more  Marcel  tried  to  calm  his  comrade, 
the  more  he  lost  his  temper  and  shouted,  for  he 
believed  that  Marcel  was  afraid  of  him  and  he 
wished  to  profit  by  his  bullying ;  he  even  went  so 
far  as  to  draw  his  sword  and  run  about  the  room, 
rolling  his  little  eyes  around  him  as  if  he  would 
split  everything  in  two.  Marcel  grew  impatient, 
and  seeing  that  all  of  his  entreaties  were  vain 
decided  to  take  a  broom  handle  from  behind  the 
door.  Putting  himself  on  the  defensive,  he  waited 
for  his  enemy  to  come  and  attack  him,  but  this 
action  suddenly  calmed  Chaudoreille's  fury.  At 
sight  of  Marcel  on  guard  with  his  broom,  he 
stopped  and  struck  his  forehead  as  one  who  has 
suddenly  received  an  enlightening  idea. 

"  Great  God  !  "  he  cried,  "  What  was  I  going 


176         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

to  do  ?  It  was  in  the  house  of  the  noble  Marquis 
de  Villcbelle  that  I  allowed  myself  to  be  carried 
away  by  anger?  Oh,  my  courage,  how  much 
trouble  you  give  me.  All  is  forgotten.  Marcel. 
Come  to  my  arms.    I  will  forgive  you.'* 

Marcel,  always  a  good  fellow,  threw  aside  his 
broom  and  shook  hands  with  Chaudoreille.  They 
returned  to  the  table,  but  they  played  no  more, 
and  while  in  the  room  on  the  first  floor  somebody 
was  sighing  and  looking  at  the  hand  of  the  clock, 
in  the  lower  room  the  two  comrades  ended  by 
putting  themselves  to  sleep  while  sampling  the 
fine  wines  and  liqueurs  of  the  marquis. 


CHAPTER  XI 
The  Pont-Neuf.     Tabarin 

The  ill-success  of  his  serenade  had  not  daunted 
the  young  Urbain ;  when  one  is  really  very  much 
in  love  one  does  not  lose  courage  for  a  trifle.  Our 
lover  returned  to  his  dwelling  cursing  the  jealous 
barber,  for  he  did  not  doubt  that  jealousy  was  at 
the  root  of  Touquct's  exceedingly  watchful  care 
of  the  young  girl ;  and  though  he  was  but  little 
dismayed  at  the  barber's  threats,  Urbain  swore,not- 
withstanding  them,  to  become  known  to  Blanche, 
and  to  do  everything  in  his  power  to  make  her 
love  him.  The  act  of  swearing  is  in  itself  ex- 
tremely easy  of  accomplishment  —  what  oaths 
have  been  taken  and  broken  within  a  half  cen- 
tury only ;  but  we  arc  now  speaking  merely  of  the 
oaths  of  love,  which  are  lighter,  necessarily,  than 
some  others,  and  to  break  them  is  considered  a 
pardonable  offence.  Urbain,  who  had  sworn  that 
he  would  see  Blanche,  was,  however,  greatly 
troubled  to  invent  a  way  of  doing  so ;  but  in 
love  one  always  swears  first  and  reflects  afterwards, 
and  in  business  it  must  be  confessed  there  are 
a  good  many  people  who  follow  the  very  same 
course. 

»7» 


178         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

On  the  day  after  the  night  on  which  he  had 
sung,  Urbain  was  walking  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  barber's,  but  he  dared  not  enter  the  house, 
which  he  ogled  sighingly,  nor  even,  for  fear  of 
being  noticed  by  Touquet,  could  he  pass  by  the 
shop.  It  was  from  afar  that  he  examined  the  win- 
dows ;  nobody  could  be  seen  at  them.  She  seemed 
to  be  condemned  to  an  eternal  seclusion.  He 
waited  until  Marguerite  should  leave  the  house. 
At  last  she  opened  the  door  of  the  alley ;  she  was 
going  to  get  some  provisions. 

Urbain  did  not  lose  sight  of  the  old  servant, 
but  he  did  not  dare  to  go  into  the  shops  with 
her.  How  could  he  get  into  conversation  ?  One 
is  not  apt  at  intrigue  at  nineteen  years  of  age.  At 
last,  at  the  moment  when  Marguerite  was  passing 
by  him,  Urbain  tremblingly  accosted  her, — 

"  Madame,  I  should  very  much  like  —  ** 

"  I'm  not  a  dame  —  I'm  not  married.** 

**  Mademoiselle  if  I  dared  —  ** 

"  If  you  dared  what  ? " 

**  To  ask  you  —  " 

"  Well,  why  don't  you  speak  ?  ** 

"  Some  news  of  Mademoiselle  Blanche." 

"  Mademoiselle  Blanche !  Oh  that's  what  you 
are  up  to,  my  young  dandy  ?  Go  along,  go  your 
own  way  ;  you're  addressing  the  wrong  person. 
If  you  want  to  talk  about  that  dear  child,  speak 
to  my  master ;  he'll  answer  you,  I  warrant,  and  in 
the  best  manner." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       179 

So  saying,  Marguerite  left  Urbain  and  went  m, 
murmuring,  — 

"  Monsieur  is  right,  it  is  necessary  to  redouble 
our  watchfulness  that  such  a  pretty  girl  may  not 
be  besieged  by  these  worthless  fellows." 

**  They're  all  bound  to  make  me  despair,"  said 
Urbain,  disheartened  by  the  unkind  welcome  ac- 
corded him  by  the  old  woman,  "  but,  despite  all 
their  precautions,  I  shall  see  her,  I  shall  speak  to 
her."  And  the  better  to  dream  of  at  least  seeing 
her  Urbain  departed  from  the  house  that  held 
Blanche ;  he  walked  by  chance  and  soon  arrived 
on  the  Pont-Neuf. 

The  Pont-Neuf  was  then  a  meeting  place  for 
strangers,  for  schemers,  for  idlers,  for  pickpockets, 
and  people  who  had  newly  disembarked.  It  was 
the  most  crowded  thoroughfare  of  the  capital; 
unceasingly  encumbered  with  groups  of  curious 
people  who  stopped  before  the  quacks,  who  were 
selling  their  universal  panaceas  and  playing  farces, 
mountebanks,  thimbleriggers,  pedlers  of  songs,  of 
ironmongery,  of  books,  of  jujubes,  it  offered  to 
the  observer  a  diverting  and  extremely  animated 
scene. 

Tabarin,  who  became  famous  by  the  scenes 
which  he  played  in  public,  and  from  whom  our 
great  Moliere  has  not  disdained  to  borrow  some 
buffooneries,  was  then  established  on  the  Pont- 
Neuf,  towards  the  Place  Dauphine.  He  had  suc- 
ceeded the  famous  Signor  Hieronimo  who,  in  the 


i8o         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Cour  du  Palais,  sold  an  ointment  to  cure  burns, 
after  burning  himself  publicly  on  the  hands  and 
curing  the  wounds  with  his  balm,  while  Galinette- 
la-Galine  attracted  the  passers  by  his  parades. 

In  addition  to  Tabarin's  show  there  were  still 
other  theatres  on  the  Pont-Neuf.  Maitre  Gonin, 
a  skilful  juggler,  had  established  himself  there, 
and  charmed  all  Paris  by  his  dexterity ;  while  a 
little  farther  off  Briochee  had  his  marionette 
show. 

Tabarin,  the  simple  clown  of  an  ointment  seller, 
played  the  innocent,  and  put  a  thousand  ridicu- 
lous questions  to  his  master  who,  dressed  as  a 
doctor,  answered  his  facetious  interrogations  by 
calling  him  big  ass,  fat  pig,  etc.,  and  this  specta- 
cle drew  the  crowd.  One  saw  there  not  only  the 
people  but  personages  from  the  first  classes  of 
society. 

Urbain,  who  was  walking  along,  dreaming  of 
his  love,  that  is  to  say  without  noticing  anything 
before  him,  elbowing  everybody  who  approached 
him,  was  pushed  by  the  crowd  before  the  theatre 
of  the  fashionable  buffoon.  The  young  bachelor 
heard  shouts  of  laughter  from  all  sides ;  he  saw  no- 
blemen, young  girls,  workmen,  and  workwomen 
who,  with  their  noses  in  the  air,  listened  with  de- 
light to  a  man  who  was  dressed  in  a  clown's  cap, 
smock  frock,  and  large  pantaloons,  and  whose  face 
was  covered  by  a  mask ;  this  man  was  Tabarin. 
His  master,  in  a  doctor's  habit,  his  head  covered 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      i8i 

with  a  basque  cap,  his  chin  adorned  with  a  long 
beard,  held  some  bottles  of  ointment  or  balm  in 
his  hands.  Urbain  mechanically  looked  and  lis- 
tened with  the  others ;  in  order  to  judge  of  that 
which  gave  so  much  pleasure  to  the  idlers  of  that 
century,  let  us,  also,  listen  for  a  moment. 

Tabarin.  —  What  people  have  you  found  to 
be  the  most  courteous  in  the  world  ? 

The  Master.  —  Tve  been  in  Italy,  I  have 
visited  Spain,  and  traversed  a  great  part  of  Ger- 
many, but  nowhere  have  I  remarked  so  much 
courtesy  as  one  sees  in  France.  You  observe  that 
the  French,  kiss,  caress,  wish  each  other  well,  and 
take  off  the  hat. 

Tabarin.  —  Do  you  call  taking  off  the  hat  an 
act  of  courtesy  ?  I  shouldn't  care  much  about 
such  caresses. 

The  Master.  —  The  custom  of  taking  off  the 
hat  as  a  mark  of  friendship  is  ancient,  Tabarin, 
and  bears  witness  to  the  honor,  the  respect,  and 
the  friendliness  which  one  should  feel  for  those 
whom  he  salutes. 

Tabarin.  —  So  you  judge  all  courtesy  to  con- 
sist in  taking  off  the  hat?  Would  you  like  to 
know  who  are  the  most  courteous  people  in  the 
world  ? 

The  Master.  —  Who  Tabarin? 

Tabarin.  —  They  are  the  tireurs  de  laine  of 
Paris ;  for  they  are  not  content  with  taking  off 


1 82         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

the  hat  only,  but  more  often  take  off  the  cloak 
also/ 

This  sally  was  received  with  the  applause  and 
laughter  of  the  assembled  crowd,  among  whom 
might  undoubtedly  be  found  some  tireurs  de 
laine,  who  plied  their  trade  while  laughing  still 
louder  than  their  neighbors. 

Urbain  did  not  share  the  general  hilarity;  how- 
ever, he  lent  his  ear  to  a  new  scene  which  the 
buffoon  was  playing.  Tabarin,  seeking  to  intro- 
duce himself  to  the  presence  of  his  Isabelle,  whom 
Cascandre  kept  from  sight  as  an  old  duenna, 
found  no  better  expedient  than  to  disguise  him- 
self as  a  woman,  and  under  this  costume  to  seek 
a  tete-a-tete  with  his  mistress.  The  harlequin  mask 
which  Tabarin  wore  under  his  feminine  costume 
lent  a  thousand  absurdities  which  evoked  anew 
the  gayety  of  the  crowd  and  in  which  decency 
was  not  always  scrupulously  observed;  but  the 
public  of  the  Pont-Neuf  was  not  easily  abashed, 
and  the  women  of  good  standing  who  viewed 
this  spectacle  contented  themselves  with  spread- 
ing their  fans  before  their  eyes  and  crying,  — 

"  What  unbecoming,  scandalous  actions ;  they 
should  at  least  forbid  these  gestures.'* 

Urbain,  watching  the  grotesque  disguise  of  the 
buffoon,  conceived  a  plan.  Why  should  he  not 
use  the  same  means  to  introduce  himself  into  the 

I  General  collection  of  the  CEuvres  et  Faceties  de  Tabarin,  Paris,  1 725. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      183 

barber's  house  ?  Was  it  not  Love  himself  who 
taught  him  this  strategy  by  making  him  a  witness 
of  this  scene  of  Tabarin's  at  the  moment  when  he 
was  racking  his  brain  to  find  out  a  way  of  ap- 
proaching Blanche. 

Whether  it  were  Love,  Destiny,  or  a  chance 
which  had  led  our  lover,  he  was  none  the  less  de- 
lighted with  his  idea,  and,  giving  a  thousand 
thanks  to  Tabarin,  he  thought  of  nothing  but 
putting  it  into  execution.  Immediately,  pushing 
from  right  to  left,  he  retired  from  the  crowd.  Ur- 
bain  elbowed  a  grisette,  twisted  an  old  woman's 
cloak,  crushed  the  foot  of  a  little  woman  who,  sup- 
ported on  the  arm  of  a  young  student,  had  slipped 
among  the  crowd ;  but,  insensible  to  the  injuries 
which  he  inflicted,  he  continued  to  make  his  way 
and,  finding  himself  free  at  last,  ran  to  his  dwelling 
without  stopping  to  take  breath. 

Arrived  there  the  young  bachelor  opened  the 
drawer  of  a  little  walnut-wood  secretary  and 
counted  his  money,  for  in  every  affair  it  is  neces- 
sary to  have  recourse  to  this  cursed  money  in 
order  to  abolish  obstacles  and  arrive  more  quickly 
at  the  end  which  one  has  in  view.  His  treasury 
held  only  sixteen  livres  tournois,  which  is  very 
little  and  would  not,  in  our  day,  introduce  one 
into  the  boudoir  of  a  Lais ;  but  when  beauty  is 
accompanied  by  innocence  access  is  much  easier. 

Besides  Urbain  would  not  take  the  costume  of 
a  grand  lady.    On  the  contrary  he  wished  to  dis- 


1 84         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

guise  himself  as  a  peasant;  his  awkwardness  in 
that  costume  would  be  less  noticeable.  He  looked 
at  himself  in  his  little  glass.  No  beard,  no  whiskers, 
not  the  smallest  hair  on  his  chin.  Urbain  jumped 
for  joy ;  although  some  days  previously  he  had 
sighed  to  have  mustaches,  to-day  he  wished  to 
change  into  a  girl.  He  was  delighted  also  at  not 
being  very  tall,  and  exclaimed  to  himself,  while 
looking  at  his  feet  and  hands  which  were  small,  — 

"  How  fortunate  it  is  that  I'm  not  a  strong, 
robust,  fine  man !  " 

He  had  only  to  bestir  himself  to  get  the  neces- 
sary clothing.  Urbain  took  his  crown  and  went 
to  a  second-hand  clothier,  where  he  asked  for  a 
dress  for  a  servant  from  the  country,  who,  he  said, 
was  about  his  height  They  showed  him  all  that 
constituted  the  feminine  costume,  petticoat,  cor- 
set, apron,  cap,  neckerchief,  shoes;  they  made 
him  pay  three  times  their  value,  but  our  young 
man  was  delighted. 

These  little  arrangements  having  taken  some 
time,  Urbain  went  to  dinner.  Then,  at  the  close 
of  day,  he  returned  home  with  his  little  parcel 
under  his  arm,  as  pleased  as  Jason  carrying  the 
Golden  Fleece,  as  Pluto  ravishing  Proserpine,  as 
Apollo  tearing  off  the  skin  of  the  Python,  as 
Hercules  bearing  oflF  the  Golden  Apples  from  the 
garden  of  the  Hesperides,  or  as  Paris  abducting 
the  wife  of  Mcnelas, — and  certainly  all  of  those 
men  should  have  been  very  well  pleased. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       185 

Arrived  in  his  chamber  our  lover  rubbed  his 
flint,  for  at  that  time  nothing  was  known  of  sul- 
phur matches.  Having  procured  a  light  he  im- 
mediately proceeded  to  change  his  state,  keeping 
of  his  masculine  costume  only  the  garment  which 
he  judged  to  be  very  necessary  in  order  not  to 
freeze  under  his  feminine  skirt.  Urbain  put  on 
the  skirt,  then  the  corset,  which  he  endeavored  to 
lace,  but  he  did  it  very  badly ;  he  drew  one  string 
instead  of  another,  he  ripped  and  pulled,  he 
pricked  himself.  The  poor  boy  was  in  despair, 
he  looked  at  himself  in  his  Httle  glass  and  saw 
well  that  all  was  not  right ;  he  never  should  come 
to  the  end.  What  could  he  do  ?  Only  a  woman 
knows  all  the  mysteries  of  the  feminine  toilet. 
It  was  necessary,  then,  to  beg  some  woman  to 
come  to  his  aid,  and  he  recalled  that  on  the  story 
below  him  lodged  an  old  bachelor  whose  servant, 
polite  and  intelligent,  alwavs  made  him  a  grace- 
ful curtsey.  Immediately  Urbain,  holding  as  well 
as  he  could  the  skirt  and  the  corset,  ran  down 
stairs  as  quickly  as  possible  and  rang  his  neigh- 
bor's bell.  The  servant  opened  the  door,  and 
burst  into  a  shout  of  laughter  on  seeing  this  per- 
son, half  man,  half  woman ;  but  no  matter  how 
he's  dressed  a  pretty  boy  of  nineteen  is  always 
interesting,  and  Urbain's  voice  was  very  touching 
as  he  said  to  the  maid, — 

"Ah,  mademoiselle,  I'm  very  much  in  doubt. 
I  wish  to  dress  myself  as  a  woman,  and  I  shall 


1 86         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

never  come  to  the  end.  Would  you  be  so  amia- 
ble as  to  help  me  for  a  moment  ? " 

"  Very  willingly "  answered  the  big  girl  and, 
without  allowing  him  to  beg  further,  she  followed 
Urbain  to  his  room,  where  she  laughed  still  more 
on  seeing  how  he  had  put  on  the  costume. 

"  Are  you  going  to  a  ball  ? "  said  she  to  him.  * 

"  Yes,  and  I  wish  to  be  so  well  disguised  that 
nobody  could  recognize  me." 

"  All  right ;  wait,  I'll  dress  you,  and  I  promise 
you  you'll  look  well." 

Immediately  she  commenced  undoing  all  that 
Urbain  had  done.  Then  she  examined  the  gar- 
ments. 

**  They're  not  very  elegant,"  she  said. 

"  They  are  all  I  desire,  I  wish  to  be  very  sim- 
ply dressed." 

"  But  it's  necessary  to  put  another  skirt  on 
underneath,  that  one  there  isn't  enough;  you 
haven't  hips  like  us.  We  must  make  some  for 
you.  And  that  cap  is  horrid  I  I  wouldn't  go  out 
in  it.  I'll  go  and  get  you  one  of  mine,  and 
everything  else  that  you  need.  Oh,  I'll  make  you 
genteel." 

And  the  young  servant,  without  listening  to 
Urbain's  thanks,  ran  to  her  room,  whence  she 
soon  returned  carrying  all  that  was  necessary  to 
turn  a  young  man  into  a  passable  looking  girl. 
The  new  cap  was  tried,  it  suited  perfectly.  Urbain 
was  delighted ;  he  did  not  know  how  to  testify 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      187 

his  gratitude  to  the  young  girl.  The  latter  had 
not  finished  his  headdress,  there  were  some  bows 
to  be  made  and  some  hair  which  must  be  pushed 
back.  She  pinned  his  kerchief  closely  about  his 
neck,  stopped,  looked  at  him,  and  exclaimed,  — 

"  Truly  that  does  very  well !  Such  a  white 
skin,  such  a  sweet  air ;  anyone  would  be  deceived 
in  him,  that's  sure.  Wait  a  moment,  till  I  make 
a  false  bust." 

"  Is  it  really  necessary  ?  ** 

"  Is  it  necessary  —  why,  what  a  question  !** 

**  But  Tm  stifling  in  this  corset." 

"Well,  so  do  we  stifle  in  them,  but  that's 
nothing ;  it's  necessary  to  suffer  a  little  if  one 
wants  to  be  genteel.  Wait,  now,  I'll  pull  your 
waist  in,  then  I'll  make  you  some  hips,  and  then, 
ah,  yes,  that's  all  that's  necessary.  It's  by  those 
things  that  one  distinguishes  the  sex." 

The  young  servant  kept  finding  something 
more  to  do  for  Urbain,  and  the  latter,  in  order  to 
be  well  disguised,  allowed  her  to  do  as  she  pleased 
with  the  best  grace  in  the  world,  repeating  every 
moment,  — 

"  How  good  you  are,  mademoiselle,  how  can  I 
ever  prove  my  gratitude  ? " 

Urbain's  toilet  had  lasted  more  than  two  hours, 
at  the  end  of  which  time  the  young  girl  left  him, 
saying,  — 

"  There,  that's  done,  you  don't  look  a  bit  like 
a  man  now ;  there's  not  the  least  thing  to  make 


1 88         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

them  doubt  that  you're  a  girl.  At  this  hour  you 
can  go  out.  Hold  your  eyes  down,  look  from  the 
side,  take  small  steps,  balance  yourself  straight 
from  the  hips,  pinch  your  mouth,  throw  your 
nose  up  a  little  high,  and  you  won't  go  to  the 
end  of  the  street  without  making  a  conquest. 
Good-by,  monsieur,  when  you  have  need  don't 
hesitate  to  call  me  if  you  please." 

The  young  servant  departed,  and  Urbain,  after 
having  studied  his  walk  for  a  little  while,  decided 
at  last  to  venture  into  the  streets  of  Paris  in  his 
new  costume. 


CHAPTER  XII 
A  Nocturnal  Adventure 

The  bachelor  in  cap  and  crinoline  felt  suffi- 
ciently ill  at  his  ease  in  the  streets  of  Paris.  Al- 
though he  was  protected  by  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  for  there  were  few  who  carried  lanterns, 
every  time  anyone  passed  near  him  Urbain  was 
afraid  that  he  had  been  recognized,  and  fully  ex- 
pected to  be  taken  by  the  sergeants  of  the  watch, 
who  would  doubtless  demand  the  motive  of  his 
disguising  himself,  and  fleece  him  to  the  extent  of 
a  heavy  fine  or  even  perhaps  lock  him  up,  if  he 
continued  to  walk  in  the  guise  of  a  woman  in  the 
good  city  of  Paris,  where  it  was  only  by  distrib- 
uting money  in  handfuls  that  one  was  allowed  to 
pass  for  what  he  was  not ;  and,  as  Urbain  had  not 
a  crown  about  him,  because  when  disguising  one*s 
self  as  a  woman  one  does  not  remember  every- 
thing, even  to  the  putting  of  money  in  his  pocket, 
the  young  lover  felt  it  necessary  to  avoid  the 
police ;  at  all  events,  he  did  not  fear  robbers ; 
that  was  much,  then,  and  may  still  prove  some- 
thing of  a  consolation  to  those  who  have  nothing 
to  lose  today. 

Little  by  little  Urbain  grew  more  assured ;  he 


I90         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

began  to  feel  accustomed  to  his  costume,  and  cer- 
tain compliments  addressed  to  him  in  passing 
proved  to  him  that  people  were  entirely  deceived 
as  to  his  sex.  Urbain  was  careful  not  to  respond 
to  the  gallantries  offered  him  by  a  few  cavaliers, 
but  contented  himself  by  walking  faster,  escaping 
with  muddied  skirts  since  he  did  not  yet  know 
very  well  how  to  hold  them  up  and  they  greatly 
embarrassed  him  in  jumping  the  streams  of  dirty 
water.  At  length  he  reached  the  Rue  des  Bourdon- 
naise ;  and  then  for  the  first  time  he  reflected  that 
it  was  very  late  to  try  to  introduce  himself  into  the 
barber's  house.  There  was  no  likelihood  of  Mar- 
guerite's venturing  out  at  this  hour ;  his  disguise 
would  therefore  not  serve  him  till  the  next  day. 
His  assumption  of  feminine  raiment  had  been 
useless  so  far;  but  does  a  lover  make  such  re- 
flections ?  Besides,  as  Urbain  had  to  habituate 
himself  to  wearing  women's  clothes,  he  was  not 
displeased  at  making  his  first  essay  at  night. 
While  thus  thinking  he  rambled  past  the  barber's 
house,  ogling  Blanche's  windows,  and  sending  her 
a  thousand  sighs  which  she  could  not  hear  because 
she  was  asleep,  and  which  probably  she  would  not 
have  heard  any  better  had  she  been  awake. 

Wholly  engrossed  in  the  pleasure  of  sighing 
under  his  lady  love's  casements,  Urbain  forgot 
that  while  it  is  natural  to  see  a  young  man  waiting 
and  sighing  in  the  street  at  night,  a  solitary  wo- 
man doing  the  like  evokes  many  conjectures.  All 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       191 

of  a  sudden  the  young  lover  was  recalled  from  his 
ecstacy  by  some  unknown  person  who  pinched 
him  very  hard  on  the  knee,  and  said  to  him,  in  a 
hoarse,  rasping  voice, — 

"  It  seems  to  me,  little  mother,  that  the  one 
you're  waiting  for  is  something  late ;  if  you'll  only 
accept  my  arm  we  can  go  and  taste  some  very  fair 
white  wine  at  the  merchant's  down  yonder.  I'm 
a  good  customer  of  his,  and  he  has  some  comfort- 
able private  rooms." 

Urbain  turned  sharply  round  and  perceived  at 
his  side  a  big,  jolly  fellow,  in  the  garb  of  a  chair 
porter,  who  was  offering  his  arm  and  smiling 
almost  to  his  ears.  Without  answering,  and  little 
pleased  by  this  adventure,  the  young  man  began 
to  run,  soon  leaving  his  gallant  in  the  lurch.  But 
his  troubles  were  not  to  end  there ;  some  two 
hundred  steps  farther  on,  he  was  stopped  anew 
by  some  pages  who  essayed  to  kiss  him  ;  he  dis- 
engaged himself  from  them  as  speedily  as  possi- 
ble, and  resumed  his  course.  Later  he  was  in 
turn  accosted  by  some  students,  some  lackeys,  and 
some  soldiers,  several  of  them  pursuing  him. 
Urbain,  that  he  might  the  better  escape  them,  re- 
doubled his  agility,  and,  in  order  to  run  faster, 
gathered  his  skirts  up  about  his  knees ;  but  the 
higher  he  pulled  them,  the  greater  ardor  these 
gentlemen  evinced  in  following  him. 

"Hang  it,"  said  Urbain,  while  running,  "I 
didn't  disguise  myself  as  a  woman  to  be  pinched 


192         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

by  all  the  pages  and  lackeys  of  this  city.  Men  arc 
the  devil  incorporate ;  I  perceive  now  that  it's 
more  agreeable  to  wear  breeches  than  petticoats, 
but  tomorrow  I  shall  obtain  entrance  to  Blanche's 
dwelling.  Come,  courage  —  they'll  leave  me  alone 
perhaps." 

And  Urbain  jumped  over  the  puddles,  wound 
among  the  streets,  perspiring  and  suffocating  in  his 
corset,  and  under  the  false  bosom  with  which  the 
young  servant  had  stuffed  his  chest.  Turning 
down  the  streets  at  random  as  he  came  to  them, 
in  order  to  escape  his  pursuers,  he  did  not  know 
himself  in  what  neighborhood  he  was. 

At  last,  not  hearing  anyone  behind  him,  he 
stopped  to  take  breath  and  recognize  the  place  in 
which  he  stood.  He  had  passed  the  bridges  and 
had  reached  the  great  Pre-aux-Clercs,  in  which  they 
had  commenced  to  build  houses  and  open  streets; 
as  they  had  done  in  the  little  Pre-aux-Clercs,  which 
towards  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Henri  the  Fourth 
was  entirely  covered  with  houses  and  gardens. 

"  Good ;  here's  the  new  street  they  call  Rue  de 
Verneuil,"  said  Urbain  to  himself;  "  and  this  is 
the  Chemin-aux-Vaches  where  they've  built  the 
Rue  Saint-Dominique;  I  recognize  it.  But  I'll  rest 
for  a  minute  or  two,  I'm  too  far  from  home  to  re- 
turn there  immediately  —  I  can't  walk  any  farther. 
Let's  get  my  breath  at  least.  This  neighborhood's 
deserted,  and,  as  night  is  far  advanced,  let's  hope  I 
shall  make  no  more  conquests.'*     Urbain  hoisted 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      193 

his  skirts  and  seated  himself  on  a  stone.  At  the 
expiration  of  half  an  hour,  feeling  rested,  he  rose 
and  took  the  way  to  his  lodgings.  He  walked 
quietly  along  congratulating  himself  that  he  should 
meet  no  one  else  when  suddenly,  in  passing  by  the 
Rue  de  Bourbon,  he  saw  four  men  who  were  leav- 
ing it  and  who,  on  sight  of  him,  barred  the  way. 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  So  late  —  and  the  game  is 
still  rising?" 

"  Upon  my  honor  a  charming  meeting,  it's  a 
little  country  wench." 

"  Better  still.    I'm  very  fond  of  peasants." 

"  What  the  devil,  marquis  !  a  peasant  who  walks 
about  Paris  in  the  middle  of  the  night.  That's  an 
innocence  which  seems  to  me  tremendously  ad- 
venturous." 

"  Come,  chevalier,  your  thoughts  are  always 
evil.  I'll  wager  the  poor  child  came  to  Paris  for 
nothing  but  to  sell  her  eggs." 

"  Let  her  have  come  for  what  she  will,  she 
sha'n't  return  without  the  impress  of  my  mus- 
taches on  her  pretty  lips." 

Urbain  realized  by  the  language  and  manners 
of  these  gentlemen  that  they  were  profligates  of  the 
higher  classes.  Unable  to  make  his  escape,  for  he 
was  surrounded  on  every  side,  he  tried  to  relieve 
himself  of  them  by  saying  in  a  falsetto  voice,  — 

"  Gentlemen,  leave  me,  I  beg  of  you  ;  I  am  not 
what  you  believe." 

But  his  prayers  were  unheeded ;  they  pushed 

VoLVU 


194         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

him,  they  surrounded  him.  Urbain,  rendered  im- 
patient by  these  manners,  saw  no  means  of  regain- 
ing his  liberty  save  making  himself  known,  and 
he  cried  in  his  natural  voice, — 

"  Leave  me,  gentlemen,  I  repeat  to  you,  you  are 
addressing  the  wrong  person." 

These  words,  pronounced  by  the  young  bache- 
lor in  a  manner  which  left  no  doubt  as  to  his  sex, 
produced  the  effect  of  a  head  of  Medusa  on  the 
four  young  noblemen :  they  remained  motionless 
for  a  moment,  then  they  all  burst  into  a  shout  of 
laughter,  crying:  "It's  a  man.  What  a  unique 
adventure." 

"  Yes,  gentlemen,  it  is  a  man,"  answered  Urbain. 
"  I  hope  now  that  you  will  allow  me  to  continue 
on  my  way." 

"  As  for  me,  I  will  no  longer  oppose  you,"  said 
one  of  the  strangers. 

"  Come,  Villebelle,"  resumed  another,  "  let  the 
boy  go.  You  can  see  very  well  he's  not  a  girl.  I 
beheve,  deuce  take  it,  that  the  wine  we've  drunk 
didn't  allow  the  marquis  to  see  our  mistake.  Isn't 
that  so,  chevalier  ?  " 

"Yes,  yes,  indeed,  gentlemen,"  answered  the 
Marquis  de  Villebelle  ;  for  it  was  that  nobleman 
himself,  who,  as  he  had  said  to  the  barber,  made 
merry  with  his  friends  by  seeking  spicy  adventures 
in  the  streets  of  the  capital.  With  a  head  excited  by 
wines  and  liqueurs,  the  marquis,  always  the  leader 
in  the  follies  and  extravagances  committed  in  these 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      195 

escapades,  had  pressed  Urbain  most  closely,  and 
on  the  latter  making  himself  known  had  continued 
to  hold  the  young  bachelor. 

"  A  moment,  my  boy,"  said  he,  stopping  Urbain. 
"  We  know  you're  not  a  girl,  that's  all  very  well ; 
but,  by  all  the  devils !  in  this  disguise  you  must 
necessarily  have  had  some  very  comical  adven- 
tures ;  recount  them  to  us,  't  will  amuse  us,  and 
afterwards  you  shall  be  free  to  go  your  way." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  repeated  the  others  ;  "  he  must  tell 
us  why  he's  dressed  up  like  a  woman." 

"  I  must  really  tell  this  adventure  at  the  cardi- 
nal's little  levee  tomorrow  morning. 

"  And  I  must  tell  it  to  Marion  Delorme.  Til 
have  Bois-Robert  put  it  into  verse  for  the  court." 

"  Colletel  shall  turn  it  into  a  comedy.  Come, 
speak  on." 

"  Yet,  once  more,  gentlemen,  allow  me  to  go  on 
my  way ;  by  what  right  do  you  interrogate  me  ? 
I  have  nothing  to  say  to  you,  and  I  wish  to  de- 
part." 

Saying  these  words,  he  endeavored  to  repulse 
the  marquis  anew,  but  the  latter  barred  the  way 
and  drew  his  sword,  crying, — 

"  Upon  my  honor,  this  little  goodman  Is  very 
fractious.  It's  really  too  droll.  You  shall  speak  or 
we  will  make  you  jump  under  our  swords  like  a 
spaniel." 

"  Insolent  fellow,"  exclaimed  Urbain,  furiously; 
"  had  I  a  weapon  you  had  not  dared  to  use  such 


196         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

language  to  me,  or  I  should  already  have  chastised 
you." 

"  Truly?  Oh,  hang  it.  I  should  like  to  see  how 
you  handle  a  sword.  Come,  chevalier,  lend  him 
yours." 

"What,  Villebelle,  you  wish  it?" 

"Yes,  undoubtedly,  a  duel  with  a  peasant  — 
that  mil  be  a  joke." 

"  Come,  gentlemen,  make  a  circle." 

So  saying,  the  marquis  took  a  sword  from  one 
of  his  companions  and  presented  it  to  Urbain. 

"  Hold,"  said  he,  "  here's  a  weapon,  defend 
yourself.  Guard  yourself,  girl-boy,  and  let  us  see 
if  you  are  as  brave  as  you*re  stubborn." 

Urbain  seized  the  sword  with  ardor  and  imme- 
diately attacked  the  marquis.  Though  embarrassed 
by  his  petticoats  and  corset  he  pressed  impetu- 
ously on  his  adversary,  who,  while  parrying  his 
strokes,  exclaimed  at  every  moment,  — 

"  Well  done ;  very  well  done,  *pon  my  honor ! 
Do  you  see  that,  gentlemen  ?  — and  that  parry  — 
and  that  thrust.  Deuce  take  it,  if  he  goes  on  in 
this  way  I  must  use  all  my  skill  to  —  " 

A  stroke  of  his  adversary's  sword,  which  crossed 
his  forearm,  cut  short  the  marquis*  words ;  his 
sword  dropped  from  his  hand,  his  friends  sur- 
rounded and  supported  him,  while  Urbain  himself 
offered  his  help. 

"  It's  nothing  —  a  mere  nothing,"  said  the  mar- 
quis ;  "  good-by,  my  friend,  you're  a  brave  fellow. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      197 

and  I'm  pleased  to  have  made  your  acquaintance  ; 
although  I  don't  know  with  whom  I've  fought 
this  duel.  As  to  you,  if  some  day  you  find  your- 
self in  any  embarrassment,  if  you  have  a  bad  busi- 
ness or  need  a  protector,  come  to  my  hotel,  ask 
for  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle  and  you  will  always 
find  me  ready  to  oblige  you." 


CHAPTER  XIII 

The  Tete-a-TIte 

Dawn  had  followed  this  night  so  fruitful  in 
events,  during  which  sleep  had  not  touched  Julia's 
eyes;  uneasy,  impatient,  twenty  times  had  she 
arisen  from  her  sofa  to  go  to  the  door  and  listen, 
in  the  belief  that  she  could  at  last  distinguish  some 
sound,  some  disturbance  which  indicated  the  ap- 
proach of  the  marquis.  But  though  she  had 
heard  every  hour  strike  during  this  to  her  appar- 
ently endless  night,  the  seductive  Villebelle  had 
not  yet  arrived. 

The  brow  of  the  young  Italian  was  clouded ; 
her  eyes,  always  vivacious  and  lustrous,  under  her 
change  of  feeling  were  now  animated  by  a  gloomy 
fire  which  boded  ill  for  those  who  had  caused  it ; 
Julia's  breast  was  oppressed,  sighs  escaped  her 
lips  and  she  walked  aimlessly  and  angrily  about 
the  apartment,  the  elegance  of  which  no  longer 
delighted  her;  she  passed  the  mirrors  without 
even  looking  at  herself  in  them.  Her  vanity  was 
most  painfully  mortified  and  humiliated,  she  felt 
insulted  by  the  indifference  of  this  marquis  who  had 
led  her  to  compromise  herself  thus,  and  now  failed 
to  keep  his  appointment,  whose  conduct,  in  fact, 

m8 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      199 

was  inexcusable.  What  woman  would  pardon  such 
neglect  ? 

To  allow  herself  to  be  abducted  with  a  good 
grace,  and  to  be  forced  to  spend  the  entire  night 
following  in  solitude.  Love  will  excuse  many 
things,  but  self-love  excuses  nothing. 

As  soon  as  daylight  paled  the  light  of  the  can- 
dles, Julia  opened  the  door  of  the  boudoir  and, 
crossing  several  rooms,  ventured  into  the  corridor. 

"  I  don't  believe  that  I  can  escape,"  she  said, 
smiling  bitterly ;  *'  they  have  taken  too  many  pre- 
cautions to  keep  me;  but  monsieur  le  marquis 
and  his  worthy  agent  no  doubt  imagine  me  to  be 
in  a  state  of  ecstatic  happiness  at  the  mere  fact  of 
having  been  brought  to  this  house.  Patience  1 
One  day  perhaps  they  will  know  me  better.** 

Julia  went  downstairs.  Although  it  was  in  the 
depth  of  winter  the  morning  was  beautiful ;  the 
young  Italian  left  by  the  peristyle  and  plunged 
into  the  gardens,  where  she  walked  up  and  down 
the  long  pathways  and  gave  herself  up  to  her 
thoughts. 

Day  had  surprised  Marcel  and  his  guest  sleep- 
ing near  the  table  where  they  had  supped.  Mar- 
cel awoke  first,  recalled  his  ideas,  and  could  not 
conceive  why  his  master  had  not  returned  in  the 
night.  However,  the  door-bell  hung  in  the  room 
where  they  had  slept,  and  the  marquis  was  a  man 
who  was  able  to  make  himself  heard. 

Marcel  pushed  Chaudoreille,  who  opened  his 


200         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

little  eyes  and  gazed  about  him  in  astonishment, 
murmuring,  — 

"  By  jingo  !  I  am  not  at  home  in  the  Rue  Brise- 
miche  nor  in  the  gambling  den  on  the  Rue  Vide- 
Gousset.  Where  the  devil  have  I  passed  the  night? 
My  purse  —  where  is  my  purse  ?  I  had  eight 
crowns  in  it." 

Chaudoreille  quickly  seized  his  purse  and 
counted  his  money,  and  Marcel  said  to  him,  — 

"  Come,  wake  up,  why  don't  you  ?  and  remem- 
ber where  you  are.  Do  you  think  me  capable  of 
robbing  you  ?  " 

"  Good-for-nothing  that  I  am !  that  good  fellow 
Marcel  —  I  remember  everything  now.  Forgive 
me,  my  friend  ;  but  at  the  first  moment  I  thought 
I  was  at  a  tavern  where  I  sleep  sometimes.  What 
the  devil !  it's  broad  daylight." 

"  Yes,  and  monsieur  le  marquis  did  not  come 
in  during  the  night ;  I  can't  understand  why.'* 

"  It  is  rather  singular,  and  that  poor  little  thing 
whom  we  took  so  much  trouble  to  bring  here, 
what  has  she  done  with  herself  since  yesterday  ? " 

"  She's  slept  the  same  as  we  have." 

"  Ah,  my  dear  Marcel,  it's  easily  seen  that  you 
have  not  studied  the  sex.  Sleep  !  —  a  woman  who 
is  waiting  her  vanquisher  for  the  first  time  ?  She 
would  sooner  keep  awake  all  night  than  go  to 
sleep." 

"  But  when  the  vanquisher  doesn't  come,  it's 
necessary  for  her  to  do  something." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      201 

"  Never  !  never  I  tell  you.  Wait,  here's  an  ex- 
ample :  I  had  once  arranged  a  meeting  with  a 
baroness  on  the  borders  of  the  Seine,  near  the  Tour 
de  Nesle  ;  that  also  was  in  winter,  and  it  was  hor- 
ribly cold.  Unforeseen  events  —  a  duel  —  pre- 
vented my  meeting  my  beauty.  I  was  wounded, 
and  spent  eight  days  in  bed.  On  the  ninth,  as  I 
passed  the  neighborhood  indicated,  by  chance, 
whom  should  I  see  there  ?  " 

"  Your  baroness  ?  " 

"  Exactly.  But,  the  poor  woman,  she  had  been 
frozen  for  four  days,  and  that  because  she  would 
not  leave  the  place  of  rendezvous." 

"  Our  dame  has  a  good  fire  and  everything  that 
she  can  desire ;  she  won't  freeze  while  awaiting 
my  master." 

"  What  do  you  say.  Marcel ;  shall  I  go  upstairs 
and  chat  pleasantly  with  her  to  distract  her  mind 
a  little  ? " 

"  No,  indeed,  that  would  be  displeasing  to  mon- 
sieur le  marquis." 

"  Well,  you're  right ;  I  suppose  he  might  take 
offence  at  it." 

"  Don't  you  think  you  had  much  better  go  and 
find  the  person  who  brought  her  here,  and  tell  him 
that  monsieur  has  not  come  ? " 

"  No,  my  dear  Marcel ;  Touquet  told  mc  to 
wait  here  for  the  marquis*  orders,  and  I  must  fol- 
low his  instructions.  If  he  does  not  come  for  a 
fortnight,  it's  all  the  same  to  me  ;  I  shall  not  leave 


202         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

this.  You  have  a  good  cellar  and  plenty  of  pro- 
visions of  all  kinds,  and  I  find  it  very  comfortable 
here ;  only,  I  must  go  out  and  get  some  cards  for 
the  coming  night,  and  I'll  teach  you  some  tricks 
which  you  don't  understand.** 

"  All  right,  I'll  go  and  get  our  breakfast  ready ; 
then  I'll  go  and  inquire  whether  the  young  lady 
wants  anything.** 

"  That  will  do ;  meanwhile  I'll  take  a  turn  in 
the  garden  and  make  the  acquaintance  of  your 
Hercules.'* 

Chaudoreille  arranged  his  mantle,  put  on  his 
new  ruff,  which  he  had  bought  by  chance,  which 
pleased  him  greatly  because  it  came  up  to  his  ears. 
He  brushed  up  his  hat,  curled  his  hair  anew,  and 
went  into  the  garden  whistling,  — 

Viens  Aurore, 
Je  t'  implore  ; 

a  song  which  good  King  Henri  had  brought  into 
fashion.  He  paused  with  an  air  of  defiance  before 
the  statues,  and  made  a  grimace  at  those  which 
had  frightened  him  the  evening  before. 

At  the  end  of  the  pathway  he  perceived  Julia, 
seated  in  a  thicket  which,  as  yet,  was  devoid  of 
foliage.  The  young  girl  was  deep  in  thought,  and 
had  not  heard  him  approach.  Chaudoreille  re- 
flected, uncertain  whether  he  should  approach  her 
or  whether  he  should  pass  on  his  way.  He -con- 
cluded to  do  the  first,  and  drew  near  her,  holding 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       203 

his  left  hand  on  his  hip,  and,  throwing  his  body 
back,  already  beginning  to  smile.  Julia  raised  her 
luminous  eyes  ;  but,  on  recognizing  Chaudoreille, 
a  look  of  humor  flashed  over  her  features,  and  she 
said  sharply, — 

"  What  do  you  want  with  me  ? " 

Chaudoreille  paused,  arrested  in  the  middle  of 
his  smile,  and  could  not  find  words  to  answer  her. 

**  Why  were  you  coming  to  me  ?  '*  resumed 
Julia ;  "  is  the  marquis  here,  or  his  confidant,  the 
barber  Touquet  ? " 

"  No,  beautiful  lady,  I  am  at  present  alone  with 
you  and  Marcel  in  the  house.  I  have  passed  the 
night  in  watching  over  your  safety,  believing  that 
the  marquis  would  arrive." 

"  Who  is  this  Marcel  ?  the  servant  who  opened 
the  door  to  us,  I  suppose." 

"  Precisely ! " 

**  He  has  served  the  marquis  for  a  long  time  in 
this  house  ? " 

"  No,  I  believe  he  has  only  been  here  four  or 
five  years." 

"  And  you,  when  did  you  come  here  ? " 

**  I  came  yesterday  for  the  first  time." 

Julia  was  silent  and  Chaudoreille  resumed  after 
a  moment,  — 

"  Are  you  acquainted  with  my  intimate  friend, 
the  barber  Touquet  ?  " 

"What  does  that  matter  to  you,"  asked  the 
young  Italian,  glancing  scornfully  at  Chaudoreille, 


204         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  It's  nothing  to  me,  certainly  —  but,  since  you 
named  him  —  he's  a  very  worthy  fellow,  certainly, 
and  I  am  honored  in  being  his  friend." 

"  That  reflects  credit  on  you,"  said  Julia,  smil- 
ing ironically. 

"Yes,  most  assuredly,"  resumed  Chaudorcille, 
who  had  interpreted  Julia's  smile  to  his  own  ad- 
vantage, "  we  have  seen  fire  together.  He  is  brave, 
I'll  give  him  justice  for  that;  he  always  conducts 
himself  honorably." 

"  Always  ?  And  has  he  sometimes  spoken  to 
you  of  his  parents  ?  —  of  his  father  ? " 

"  My  faith,  no ;  I  don't  beHeve  he  was  born 
from  the  higher  classes.  In  that  matter  I  am  in- 
finitely before  him  ;  the  Chaudoreilles  are  of  very 
pure  blood  and  have  a  stock  which  goes  back  to 
Noah.  Under  Charles  the  Bald  one  of  my  an- 
cestors had  himself  shaved  —  " 

"  What  does  it  matter  what  your  ancestors  did  ? 
I  was  talking  about  the  barber's  family." 

•'  That's  all  right ;  but  my  friend  Touquet  has 
spoken  very  little  to  me  about  them.  I  believe 
he  is  from  Lorraine  and  he  has  told  me  that  he  left 
his  country  very  early  and  came  very  young  to 
Paris,  for  it  is  only  there  that  talent  has  a  chance 
of  success  ;  also  Touquet  has  made  money,  and 
me,  thank  God,  I  am  —  " 

Here  Chaudoreille's  eyes  wandered  over  his 
doublet,  which  was  stained  in  many  places,  and  he 
covered  it  with  his  mantle,  resuming,  — 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      205 

"  I  should  be  very  rich  if  I  had  not  ruined  my- 
self for  women." 

Julia,  who  had  paid  little  attention  to  this  last 
phrase,  said  to  herself,  — 

"He  ought  to  be  rich  if  he  has  helped  the  mar- 
quis in  all  his  follies." 

"  He  is  not  married,"  resumed  Chaudoreille, 
"  although  he  could  now  find  a  good  match.  His 
house  on  the  Rue  des  Bourdonnais  is  a  very 
pretty  property.  Perhaps  it's  because  of  the  little 
one  that  he  doesn't  marry ;  perhaps  he  is  going 
to  marry  her,  I  shouldn't  be  surprised." 

"  What  little  one,"  inquired  Julia,  curiously. 

"  The  young  girl  whom  he  has  adopted  and 
who  is  now  sixteen  years  old." 

"  The  barber  Touquet  has  adopted  a  child  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes,  of  course  he  has.  Why,  if  you 
know  him,  how  is  it  that  you  are  ignorant  of 
that  ?    That's  certainly  the  best  act  of  his  life." 

"  Touquet  has  done  a  good  action,"  said  Julia, 
smiling  ironically ;  "  I  could  not  have  imagined 
that,  and  is  this  young  girl  pretty  ?  " 

"  Hang  it !  is  she  pretty  ?  Well,  I  believe  you  ! 
She  is  one  —  but  no,"  said  Chaudoreille,  correct- 
ing himself  as  if  struck  by  a  sudden  remembrance, 
"  she  is  not  handsome  at  all ;  on  the  contrary, 
she  is  ugly,  one  might  even  say  that  she  is  dis- 
agreeable." 

"One  minute  you  say  she  is  pretty  and  the 
next  you  say  she  is  very  ugly  ;  you  don't  seem 


2o6         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

to  know  what  you  are  saying,  Monsieur  Chaudo- 
reille." 

"  One  can  easily  lose  his  wits  when  near  you, 
beautiful  damsel ;  but,  by  that  sword,  I  swear  to 
you  — 

The  bell  at  the  garden  gate  was  heard,  Chaudo- 
reille  stopped ;  presuming  that  it  was  the  marquis 
and  that  it  would  perhaps  be  dangerous  for  him  to 
be  surprised  in  a  tete-a-tete  with  Julia,  he  escaped 
by  the  first  pathway  and  ran  to  rejoin  Marcel, 
while  the  young  Italian  listened  anxiously  and  her 
cheeks  assumed  a  more  vivid  color. 

Marcel  opened  the  door,  but  it  was  not  the 
marquis,  it  was  Touquet,  who  came  alone. 

"  Your  master  fought  a  duel  last  night,"  said 
he  to  Marcel, "  he  was  wounded,  but  very  slightly, 
it  seems.  I  have  come  to  speak  to  the  young 
girl.  She  is  perhaps  anxious  to  know  what  all  this 
means.   Where  is  she  now  ?  " 

"In  the  garden,"  said  Chaudoreille,  " but  I 
assure  you  she  is  not  at  all  lonely  here.  It  is  true 
that  I  have  chatted  with  her  —  " 

**  And  who  gave  you  permission  to  do  so  ? 
You're  very  bold  to  converse  with  a  woman  on 
whom  a  marquis  has  laid  his  eyes." 

"  Yes,  I  confess  that  I  am  very  bold  —  but  I 
believe  you  say  that  monseigneur  fought  a  duel ; 
do  you  know  with  whom  he  fought  ? " 

"  Idiot !  Is  that  our  business  ?  Do  you  sup- 
pose I  asked  him  ?  " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      207 

"  It's  true,  it's  not  our  business,  but  —  ** 

"You  have  nothing  more  to  do  here,  get  out." 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  take  myself  off?  " 

"  Yes,  and  immediately." 

"  Without  being  presented  to  monseigneur,  that 
is  very  awkward ;  but  at  least  —  it  seems  to  me 
that  if  they  have  no  more  need  of  me  they  ought 
to  settle  with  me." 

"  Wait !  here  are  ten  more  crowns ;  it's  more 
than  you  are  worth,  a  hundred  times." 

"  Very  well,  but  the  rosette  and  the  broken  pane 
of  glass  — " 

"  Hang  it,  stupid  !  you're  not  satisfied  ? " 

"It's  all  right,  it's  all  right,  I'm  very  well 
pleased.  I  mustn't  grumble,"  added  Chaudoreille 
to  himself,  "  he  might  happen  to  remember  the 
shaves  that  I  owe  him." 

*'  Go  at  once,"  said  the  barber,  angrily,  point- 
ing with  his  finger  to  the  garden  gate.  The  Gas- 
con hastily  thrust  the  sum  which  he  had  received 
into  his  purse,  and  placed  the  latter  carefully  in 
his  belt,  murmuring,  — 

"  Ten  and  eight,  that's  eighteen.  By  jingo,  that 
will  make  them  stare  at  the  gambling  place  in  the 
Rue  Vide-Gousset  and  at  the  bank  of  the  Rue 
Coupe-Gorge."  Then  he  shook  Marcel's  hand, 
and  wrapping  himself  in  his  mantle  left  by  the 
middle  gate,  which  was  hardly  wide  enough  for 
him  since  he  possessed  eighteen  crowns. 


208         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  barber  hastened  to  acquit  himself  of  the 
commission  with  which  his  master  had  charged 
him,  that  he  might  return  promptly  to  his  house 
and  be  there  on  the  arrival  of  his  customers.  He 
walked  hurriedly  through  the  garden,  and  soon 
met  Julia,  who  felt  her  hope  vanish  when  she  per- 
ceived him. 

"  Madame,"  said  Touquet, bowing  to  the  young 
girl,  **  the  marquis'  conduct  doubtless  seems  to 
you  rather  extraordinary,  but  you  will  excuse  him 
when  you  learn  that  he  fought  a  duel  last  night 
in  the  grand  Pre-aux-Clercs  and  was  wounded." 

"  He  is  wounded,"  said  Julia,  with  emotion, 
"  and  dangerously .?  " 

"No,  madame,  it  is  a  very  little  thing,  an  arm 
only.  Monsieur  le  marquis  made  this  event  known 
to  me  at  break  of  day  and  ordered  me  to  come 
and  tell  you.  He  hoped  to  be  very  soon  recov- 
ered, and  able  within  four  or  five  days  to  come  and 
excuse  himself;  but,  if  you  are  wearied  in  this 
place,  you  are  free  to  return  to  your  shop.  I  will 
go  and  warn  you  when  — " 

"  No,"  said  Julia,  interrupting  him  brusquely ; 
"  do  you  imagine  I  can  return  to  the  dwelling  I 
have  left  ?    I  will  wait  for  the  marquis." 

"  You  are  the  mistress,  and  they  have  orders  to 
satisfy  your  slightest  wishes." 

The  barber  bowed  to  Julia,  and  having  given 
Marcel  the  marquis'  orders,  left  the  little  house 
and  returned  to  his  home. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       209 

Five  days  had  elapsed  since  the  young  Italian 
had  entered  the  luxurious  apartments ;  there  she 
had  found  a  harpsichord,  a  sitar,  books,  some  pen- 
cils, some  sketches,  and  a  wardrobe  furnished  with 
everything  that  could  add  a  charm  to  beauty. 
Marcel,  always  obedient  and  discreet,  brought  her 
everything  that  she  desired,  without  permitting 
himself  the  slightest  question ;  nor  did  Julia  ad- 
dress him,  except  to  ask  him  for  what  she  thought 
necessary  to  distract  her,  for  the  most  magnificent 
dwelling  does  not  forbid  weariness. 

It  was  late  on  the  evening  of  the  sixth  day ; 
Julia  was  attired  with  coquetry,  in  the  hope  that 
the  marquis  would  come,  but  her  hope  was  van- 
ishing. She  lay  down  upon  the  sofa,  where  her 
reverie  had  yielded  to  a  light  slumber,  when  the 
door  of  the  room  opened  softly,  and  the  Marquis 
de  Villebelle  appeared  at  the  entrance  of  the  apart- 
ment. "  She's  not  half  bad,"  said  he,  looking  at 
Julia,  who  was  lying  carelessly  on  the  sofa ;  then 
he  advanced  towards  her ;  the  noise  awoke  the 
young  Italian,  and,  opening  her  eyes,  she  perceived 
the  great  nobleman,  whose  rich  and  elegant  cos- 
tume increased  the  grace  of  his  bearing.  He  seated 
himself,  smiling,  at  her  side.  Julia  was  about  to 
rise. 

"  Don't  move,"  said  the  marquis,  "  you  are 
very  well  as  you  are.  I  reproach  myself  with  hav- 
ing disturbed  your  slumber." 

"  Monseigneur,  I   had  about  given   you  up," 

VoLVlI 


2IO         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

said  Julia,  seeking  to  restrain  the  uneasiness  which 
she  felt  at  the  sight  of  the  marquis.  "  I  have  been 
here  for  six  days,  alone  in  this  place." 

"  Yes,  you  must  have  found  it  very  tiresome 
I  can  imagine  ;  but,  ma  belle,  my  messenger  must 
have  told  you  that  it  was  not  my  fault.  My  arm 
is  not  cured  yet,  but  I  could  not  longer  resist  the 
desire  to  see  this  amiable  child  who  for  love  of  me 
was  willing  to  live  in  solitude." 

"  For  love  of  you,  seigneur,"  said  Julia,  turning 
her  eyes  aside  so  as  not  to  meet  those  of  the  mar- 
quis, which  were  fixed  amorously  upon  her ;  "  and 
who  has  made  you  believe  that  I  am  in  love  with 
you,  if  you  please  ?  " 

"  Ah,  upon  my  honor,  that  is  divine.  Were  you 
awaiting  another  here,  then,  my  angel  ?  " 

"  I  was  waiting,  monsieur,  to  learn  from  you 
what  motive  you  had  in  inducing  me  to  leave  my 
dwelling." 

"  Delightful  by  all  the  devils  —  delightful.  She 
does  not  know  why  they  brought  her  here.  Did 
nobody  tell  you,  little  strategist  ?  " 

"It  was  from  you  alone  that  I  wished  to  hear 
it,  seigneur." 

"  That  is  correct.  Love  is  ill  made  by  an  am- 
bassador ;  the  little  god  does  not  love  pages  and 
valets.  He  wishes  to  do  his  work  himself.  Come, 
a  kiss  first,  and  we  shall  understand  each  other  bet- 
ter afterwards." 

Julia  disengaged  herself  from  the  marquis*  arms. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      an 

which  he  had  wound  about  her,  and  withdrawing 
from  him  she  cried, — 

"  Please,  sir,  cease  these  liberties  which  offend 
me ! " 

"  Which  offend  her ! "  said  the  marquis,  burst- 
ing into  laughter,  while  a  vivid  color  sprang  to 
Julia's  cheek.  "  Come  now,  what  do  you  mean  by 
that?  Are  we  playing  a  comedy?  You  wish  to 
make  me  pay  for  the  weariness  of  six  days*  wait- 
ing. Once  more,  sweetheart,  it  was  not  my  fault ; 
a  duel  at  the  moment  when  I  was  least  thinking  of 
it.  I  must  tell  you  all  about  that  for  it  was  very 
droll.  I  was  returning  with  four  of  my  friends ; 
we  were  a  little  tipsy  and  were  trying  to  dispute 
with  everybody.  We  broke  windows,  we  beat  the 
watch,  we  tore  off  the  good  shopkeepers'  wigs ; 
what  can  you  expect  ?  one  must  pass  the  time  and 
show  these  gentlemen  of  the  parliament  that  one 
does  not  regard  one's  self  as  being  comprised  in 
their  edicts,  which  forbid  vagabonds,  pages  and 
lackeys  to  make  a  noise  at  night  in  the  streets  of 
Paris.  Finally,  we  met  a  girl,  which  girl  was  a  boy ; 
he  would  not  tell  us  why  he  was  disguised,  and 
became  angry  at  our  joking;  one  of  the  others 
lent  him  a  sword  and  we  fought.  For  a  youngster, 
zooks  how  he  went  on  1  it  was  a  pleasure  to  fight 
with  him.  In  short,  he  gave  me  this  cut,  which  I 
still  feel,  and  which  prevents  me  from  using  my 
arm ;  so,  sweetheart,  I  beg  of  you  don't  be  too 
cruel,  for  I  am  not  in  a  state  to  lead  an  assault." 


212         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

And  the  marquis  again  approached  Julia,  wish- 
ing to  enfold  her  in  his  arms  ;  but  she  disengaged 
herself  and  seated  herself  farther  off,  while  the 
former  extended  himself  on  the  sofa  and  looked 
at  her  smiling,  while  whistling  a  hunting  tune. 

The  breast  of  the  young  girl  rose  more  fre- 
quently ;  she  turned  her  head  and  carried  one  of 
her  hands  to  her  eyes. 

"  What  is  the  matter  ? "  said  the  marquis,  after 
some  minutes.  "  Are  you  crying,  by  chance  ? 
Truly,  little  one,  I  can't  imagine  why.  They  told 
me  that  you  came  here  with  a  very  good  grace ; 
after  which  I  naturally  feel  surprised  at  the  sever- 
ity which  you  are  affecting  now ;  be  easy,  I  will 
be  very  virtuous  —  since  you  wish  it." 

So  saying,  Villebelle  seated  himself  near  Julia 
and  took  one  of  her  hands,  which  he  pressed  be- 
tween his  own.  The  young  Italian  raised  her  eyes 
to  the  marquis ;  there  was  in  the  features  of  the 
latter  something  so  noble,  so  seductive,  that  it  was 
very  easy  for  him  to  obtain  pardon  for  his  auda- 
city ;  accustomed  to  triumph,  he  had  trespassed 
through  habit  and  not  through  fatuity,  and  Julia's 
resistance  astonished,  but  did  not  anger  him. 

"  Why  are  you  crying  ? "  said  he  to  her. 

"  I  believed  that  you  loved  me,  and  you  despise 
me. 

"  I  despise  you  ?  No,  beautiful  girl ;  I  love 
you,  —  as  well  as  I  can  love ;  and  my  love  will 
last,  —  as  long  as  it  will ;  can  you  ask  better  ?  " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK     213 

"  I  wish  for  love ;  a  constant  and  sincere  love." 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  a  constant  love  ;  sweetheart,  you 
are  exacting.  Can  we  promise  that,  we  others? 
and  in  good  faith,  when  the  great  ladies  of  the 
court  cannot  come  by  it,  to  a  grisette  ;  should  she 
hope  to  hold  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle  ? " 

"Very  well,"  said  Julia,  rising  proudly  and 
walking  towards  the  door,  "  the  grisette  will  not 
yield  to  the  caprice  of  the  great  nobleman." 

"  Upon  my  honor,  she  is  going,  I  believe,"  said 
the  marquis,  rushing  to  retain  Julia  and  gently 
leading  her  to  the  sofa.  "  Come,  no  more  ill-hu- 
mor. Is  it  to  quarrel  that  we  are  here  ?  Time  flies 
rapidly  and  carries  with  it,  at  every  moment,  a  spark 
of  the  enkindling  fires  of  love.  One  doesn't  wait 
for  pleasure  to  be  extinguished  before  tasting  of 
it.  I  love  you.  I  adore  you,  you  little  wretch ; 
but  what  do  you  offer  me  as  the  reward  of  so 
much  ardor  ?  " 

"A  heart  that  knows  how  to  love  you  in  a 
manner  in  which  you  have  not  been  loved  before 
today,  a  heart  whose  only  happiness  will  be  to  beat 
for  you,  which  will  not  have  one  thought  to  which 
you  will  be  a  stranger,  nor  one  desire  disconnected 
from  you  ! " 

While  saying  these  words  Julia's  eyes  were  ani- 
mated and  she  fixed  them  on  the  marquis,  seek- 
ing no  longer  to  hide  the  passion  with  which  he 
had  inspired  her. 

"  What  magnificent  eyes,"  said  Villebelle,  after 


214         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

a  moment,  "  but  a  little  too  exalted  in  their  ex- 
pression. You  are  Italian,  that  is  easily  seen,  the 
burning  skies  under  which  you  were  born  do  not 
allow  you  to  treat  love  as  we  French  treat  it, 
lightly,  jokingly ;  which  is,  after  all,  the  best  way ; 
the  others  are  too  sad." 

"  Say,  rather,  that  we  know  how  to  love  truly 
—  while  you,  seigneur,  give  the  name  of  love  to 
the  most  fleeting  fancy,  your  heart  being  entirely 
a  stranger  to  the  real  passion.** 

"  Wait,  my  dear  girl !  All  your  discourses  on 
the  metaphysics  of  love  are  less  convincing  to  me 
than  one  kiss  from  those  lovely 'lips,  and  why 
should  you  keep  up  such  a  show  of  resistance  ? 
Is  it  generous  to  profit  by  my  being  wounded  ?  ** 

**  Have  you  always  been  generous,  monsei- 
gneur  ? "  said  Julia,  repulsing  the  marquis  ;  "  and 
in  this  place,  even,  have  you  nothing  to  reprove 
yourself  withal  ?  ** 

**  Why,  how's  this,  little  girl,  do  you  wish  me 
to  follow  a  course  of  morals  ? "  said  Villebelle, 
laughing.  '*  It  seems  to  me  you  are  abusing  my 
patience  a  little.  *  Pon  my  honor  those  lovely  eyes 
are  made  to  express  pleasure  rather  than  wis- 
dom. And  sermons  from  your  mouth !  a  little 
grisette  who  wishes  to  play  Lucretia  here.  Come, 
sweetheart,  leave  such  twaddling  talk.  Was  it  from 
Tabarin  or  from  Briochee  that  you  learned  those 
sentences  ? " 

Julia  rose,  her  eyes  scintillating,  her  cheeks  a 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      215 

vivid  scarlet,  and  looking  angrily  at  the  marquis 
cried,  — 

"  And  you,  seigneur,  where  did  you  learn  to 
murder  a  father  in  order  to  abduct  his  daughter  ?" 

Villebelle  remained  as  if  stunned  for  a  moment ; 
his  look  fixed  on  Julia,  who,  dismayed  herself  at 
the  change  wrought  in  the  whole  appearance  of 
the  marquis,  awaited  with  fear  what  he  should  say 
to  her. 

The  marquis  rose,  and  murmured  in  a  changed 
voice,  — 

"  What  made  you  think  I  had  ever  committed 

such  a  terrible  crime  ?    Speak,  answer,  I  command 

_    >> 
you. 

"  Seigneur,"  said  the  young  Italian,  "  I  have 
heard  the  story  of  the  abduction  of  the  beautiful 
Estrelle,  old  Delmar's  daughter,  but  the  barber 
Touquet  was  then  your  agent,  and  I  don't  doubt 
that  it  was  he  who  wanted  you  to  arm  yourself 
against  an  old  man  who  was  defending  his  daugh- 
ter." 

"  You  have  heard  some  one  speak  of  an  adven- 
ture which  has  been  forgotten  for  seventeen  years 
and  you  are  barely  twenty.  You  have  not  told 
me  all  —  have  you  known  Estrelle?  Is  she  still 
living  ?  Speak,  pray  speak,  and  count  on  my  grati- 
tude if  you  assist  me  to  recover  that  unfortunate 
woman." 

"  You  loved  her  well,  did  you  not  ? "  said  Julia, 
gazing  tenderly  at  the  marquis. 


2i6         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"Yes,  yes,  I  loved  her — I  should  love  her 
still.  Pray  tell  me,  is  she  still  living  ?  Answer 
me." 

"I  know  no  more  than  you,  seigneur,  I  swear 
to  you.  I  have  never  met  the  woman  who  bore 
that  name,  and  chance  made  the  adventure  known 
to  me.  On  seeing  you  and  on  finding  myself  in 
this  house,  to  which  Estrelle  was  brought,  the  re- 
membrance of  these  events  was  presented  to  my 
thoughts ;  forgive  me  for  having  recalled  them 
to  you  —  you  were  then  very  young ;  I  know,  also 
that  old  Delmar  did  not  die  of  his  wounds.  As 
to  his  daughter,  I  repeat  to  you  I  know  no  more 
of  her  than  you  do.  But  you  had  outraged  me  in 
comparing  me  to  those  women  whom  you  can 
purchase  every  day  with  your  riches,  while  I  only 
desire  your  love.  I  am  Italian  and  I  revenged 
myself!" 

The  marquis  did  not  answer,  he  walked  slowly 
up  and  down  the  room,  from  time  to  time  sighing 
and  glancing  around  him ;  but  he  did  not  appear 
to  perceive  that  Julia  was  there. 

"  Yes,  I  passed  a  month  with  her  here,"  said 
the  marquis,  looking  around  the  boudoir,  "  this 
abode  was  not  what  it  is  today.  I  have  embel- 
lished it,  changed  it,  in  order  to  drive  away  the 
remembrance  of  her ;  but  never  since  have  I  ex- 
perienced such  entrancing  moments  as  those  spent 
near  Estrelle." 

A  long  silence  succeeded  these  words  ;  then  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      217 

marquis  took  his  hat  and  cloak  and  slightly  in- 
clined his  head  to  Julia,  as  he  said,  in  a  low 
voice,  — 

"  I  shall  see  you  again  tomorrow." 

Then  he  hurriedly  quitted  the  little  house  in  a 
very  different  frame  of  mind  from  that  in  which 
he  had  entered  it. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
Ursule   and  the  Sorcerer  of  Verberie 

For  some  few  days  after  his  nocturnal  adven- 
ture of  the  duel  Urbain  refrained  from  wearing 
his  feminine  costume.  He  was  not  at  all  anxious 
to  make  any  further  conquests  and  to  thus  expose 
himself  to  adventures  which  were  hardly  likely  to 
always  result  to  his  advantage ;  the  young  bache- 
lor felt  that  before  he  again  disguised  himself  as 
a  girl  he  should  make  sure  that  his  stratagem 
would  bring  him  nearer  to  obtaining  an  interview 
with  Blanche. 

He  began  to  watch  Marguerite  again,  prowling 
incessantly  around  the  barber's  house,  and  obtain- 
ing all  the  information  he  could  get  as  to  the 
character  of  the  old  servant;  and  he  promised 
himself  that  he  would  avail  himself  to  the  utmost 
of  her  credulity  and  superstition.  His  plan  being 
carefully  considered  and  arranged,  an  old  messen- 
ger, commissioned  by  him,  accosted  Marguerite 
and  asked  her  if  she  knew  of  a  place  for  a  young 
peasant,  a  very  pleasant  and  virtuous  girl,  who 
had  lately  come  to  Paris  and  found  herself  with- 
out employment.  The  kindly  old  serving  woman 
at  once  gave  two  addresses  where  she  said  they 

aiS 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      219 

would  perhaps  take  the  young  girl,  and  continued 
on  her  way. 

The  next  day  while  going,  according  to  cus- 
tom, to  buy  provisions.  Marguerite  was  stopped 
by  a  country  woman,  very  modest  in  demeanor, 
but  with  an  awkward  air,  who  curtseyed  to  her  and 
thanked  her  with  lowered  eyes. 

"  What  are  you  thanking  me  for,  my  child  ? " 
said  Marguerite,  "  I  do  not  know  you." 

**  Because  you  interested  yourself  in  me  yester- 
day and  tried  to  find  me  a  place." 

"  Oh,  are  you  the  one  they  recommended  to 
me?" 

"  Yes,  mademoiselle." 

"  Did  they  engage  you  ? " 

"  No,  mademoiselle." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  it,  for  you  seem  to  me  very 
pleasing,  very  honest.  Where  do  you  come  from  ? " 

"  From  Verberie,  mademoiselle." 

"  Why  did  you  come  to  Paris  ? " 

"  I  have  lost  both  my  parents  and  I  thought 
I  should  find  work  more  easily  in  a  great  city." 

"  Yes,  but  great  cities  are  dangerous  places  for 
virtuous  young  maids  such  as  you  appear  to  be. 
They  should  have  told  you  that,  my  child." 

"  Yes,  they  did,  mademoiselle  1  but  I  am  not 
afraid  of  anything." 

"  Why,  you  must  believe  yourself  very  wary, 
very  strong,  to  think  you  can  escape  the  snares 
they'll  set  for  you." 


220         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Indeed  it's  not  that,  mademoiselle,  but  it  is 
that  —  I  daren't  say  —  it's  a  mystery,  a  secret." 

Secret  and  mystery  had  the  same  effect  upon 
the  old  maid  as  love  and  marriage  have  upon  a 
young  maid  —  they  aroused  all  her  feelings.  Mar- 
guerite's little  eyes  beamed  and  she  cried, — 

"  What,  my  child !  you  have  a  secret  ?  I  am 
not  curious,  but  you  interest  me  ;  I  should  like 
to  be  useful  to  you,  but  it's  necessary  that  I  should 
know  everything  that  concerns  you.  What  is  this 
mystery  that  you  dare  not  mention  ? " 

"  Mademoiselle,  I  did  not  wish  to  confide  in 
anyone  in  Paris,  for  somebody  told  me  there 
were  pickpockets  who  would  steal  my  treasure." 

"  You  possess  a  treasure  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  mademoiselle ;  but  one  with  which 
I  could  still  die  of  hunger." 

"Why,  indeed,  what  does  that  matter,  my 
child,  hasn't  every  young  girl  a  treasure  without 
price  —  her  innocence,  her  virtue  —  and  those 
who  guard  it  the  best  are  not  always  the  richest. 
When  I  see  shameless  women,  who  live  in  luxury 
and  abundance,  riding  in  gilded  carriages,  it  makes 
me  feel  ill.  But  about  your  secret,  my  child ; 
would  you  refuse  to  confide  in  me  ? " 

"  No,  indeed,  mademoiselle,  you  appear  so  re- 
spectable, so  good,  that  I  cannot  refuse  you." 

Marguerite  half  smiled  and  tapped  the  country 
woman  on  the  arm,  for  praise  is  a  flower  whose 
perfUme  is  grateftil  at  any  age. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      221 

"  Out  with  it  then,"  she  said.  "  What  is  it  ? " 

"  Mademoiselle,  I'll  tell  you  with  much  pleas- 
ure ;  but  it's  a  long  story,  and  I  must  go  into  a 
good  many  houses  this  morning.  If  you  would 
let  me  tell  it  to  you  this  evening  at  your  house, 
that  would  be  better,  for  I  dare  not  say  all  that  in 
the  street ;  some  one  might  hear  me  and  take  me 
for  a  sorcerer,  and  I'm  very  much  afraid  of  the 
Chambre  Ardente.  God  knows,  however,  ma- 
demoiselle, that  I  understand  nothing  of  magic, 
and  I'm  more  afraid  of  the  devil  than  I  am  of 
men." 

**  Oh,"  said  Marguerite,  whose  curiosity  had 
reached  an  unbearable  point,  "  this  mystery  of 
yours  is  of  itself  extraordinary  ?  " 

"Yes,  mademoiselle." 

"  Indeed  !  Well,  this  is  very  embarrassing;  to 
receive  you  in  the  house  is  difficult.  Where  do 
you  live,  my  child  ?  " 

Urbain  hesitated  for  a  moment,  then  replied: — 

"  Near  the  Porte  Saint- Antoine." 

"  Oh,  good  heavens  —  that's  more  than  a  league 
from  here.  I  could  never  get  there ;  my  master's 
a  very  strict  man  and  doesn't  wish  that  anyone 
should  have  visitors." 

Marguerite  reflected  for  some  moments,  then 
her  curiosity  carried  the  day. 

"  Well,"  said  she  at  last,  "  come  this  evening 
at  seven  o'clock  ;  it'll  be  dark ;  but  look  well  at 
that  house  over  there  —  that  alleyway." 


222         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Oh,  I  shall  recognize  it.** 

"  Don't  knock ;  keep  near  the  door.  1*11  let 
you  in,  and  show  you  up  to  my  room.  At  that 
hour  my  master  doesn't  ordinarily  need  my  ser- 
vices, and  he  never  leaves  the  lower  room.'* 

"  That's  enough,  mademoiselle,  I'll  be  there  at 
seven  precisely.'* 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  ** 

"  Ursule  Ledoux." 

"  Above  all,  Ursule,  don't  gossip  with  anybody 
about  this.  It's  no  crime  to  receive  you,  but  my 
master's  a  little  ridiculous  and  might  find  it 
wrong.  Besides,  my  child,  one  must  be  discreet 
in  everything.  You'll  tell  me  your  secret  this  even- 
ing, Ursule  ?  '* 

"Yes,  mademoiselle.** 

"  At  seven  o'clock,  the  house  over  there.** 

Urbain  departed,  delighted  by  the  success  of 
his  stratagem,  breathing  with  difficulty,  partly 
from  the  hope  of  seeing  Blanche  and  partly  be- 
cause his  corset  impeded  his  respiration ;  and 
Marguerite  reached  her  dwelling,  saying,  — 

"  This  young  girl  looks  as  sweet  as  she  looks 
honest,  and  there's  no  harm  in  receiving  her  for 
a  moment  —  it'll  amuse  my  poor  little  Blanche  a 
little ;  she's  been  rather  sad  for  some  days  and 
seems  more  lonely  than  usual ;  and  we  shall  know 
the  secret  which  —  mon  Dieu,  if  seven  o'clock 
would  only  come  soon." 

Marguerite  hastened  to  find   Blanche.    Since 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      223 

the  night  of  the  serenade  the  lovely  child  had 
been  even  more  dreamy  than  before ;  she  sang 
nothing  but  the  refrain  of  her  dear  romance,  and 
the  villanelles,  the  virelays,  the  old  songs  amused 
her  no  longer.  Marguerite  drew  near  to  her  and 
said  mysteriously,  in  a  low  tone,  — 

"  This  evening  we  shall  have  a  visitor." 
"  A  visitor,"  said  Blanche.   "  Oh,  M.  Chaudo- 
reille  I  suppose." 

"No,  indeed,  a  very  pleasing,  very  honest  young 
country  girl  whom  you  don't  know.  A  poor  child 
who  possesses  a  treasure  and  who  is  looking  for  a 
place  as  cook ;  she  wishes  to  remain  virtuous,  and 
for  that  reason  has  come  to  Paris  ;  she  is  afraid  of 
the  devil,  but  of  nothing  else." 

"  But  dear  nurse,  I  don't  understand." 
"  Hush  !  hush  !  keep  still !  This  evening  she 
will  come,  and  we  shall  hear  her  story ;  there  is  a 
question  of  a  very  curious  mystery,  but  be  silent ; 
it  is  not  necessary  that  M.  Touquet  should  know' 
anything  about  that  for  he  might  forbid  this  poor 
Ursule  from  coming  to  chat  with  us,  and  that 
would  displease  me  very  much  because  she  will 
amuse  you  a  little,  my  child." 

"  Oh,  be  easy,  dear  nurse,  I  shall  say  nothing," 
cried  Blanche,  and  she  jumped  about  her  room  for 
joy  because  the  announcement  of  this  visit  was  for 
her  an  extraordinary  event.  The  least  thing  new 
is  a  great  pleasure  for  those  who  pass  their,  lives 
deprived  of  all  gayety.   It  is  thus  that  a  storm  or 


224         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

even  a  shower  will  distract  and  occupy  a  poor 
prisoner ;  that  a  bottle  of  wine  will  make  a  feast 
for  a  man  of  small  means  habituated  to  drinking 
nothing  but  water ;  that  the  sound  of  a  Barbary 
organ  appears  delightful  to  the  country  people ; 
that  a  ticket  for  the  play  crowns  the  wishes  of  the 
poor  workwoman  of  ten  sous  a  day  ;  that  a  little 
muslin  dress  makes  an  honest  grisette  happy ;  and 
that  Sunday  is  awaited  with  impatience  by  those 
who  work  all  the  week ;  while  for  many  people 
fetes,  the  theatre,  music,  diamonds,  cannot  rejoice 
their  hearts.  After  all,  should  not  the  poor  be 
happier  than  the  rich? 

At  last  seven  sounded  from  Saint  Eustachc's 
clock.  The  barber  had  long  since  sent  Blanche 
and  Marguerite  to  shut  themselves  into  their 
rooms.  The  old  servant  went  softly  downstairs, 
trying  to  make  as  little  noise  as  possible  with  her 
heels,  and  shielding  the  light  of  her  lamp  with  her 
hand.  She  opened  the  street  door  and  saw  the 
country  girl,  who  had  been  waiting  for  a  quarter 
of  an  hour. 

"  That's  well,"  said  Marguerite,  "you  are  here ; 
but  hush !  don't  speak,  don't  make  any  noise ; 
let  me  lead  you." 

Urbain  nodded  his  head  and  entered  the  alley- 
way, while  Marguerite  softly  closed  the  door. 
Then  our  lover  was  at  the  height  of  his  joy.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  he  breathed  a  purer  air  in  the 
house  of  the  one  he  loved.    He  believed  himself 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      225 

In  the  abode  of  highest  bliss  while  going  up  the 
little  crooked  staircase ;  and  the  black  and  crum- 
bling walls  that  surrounded  him  had  more  charm 
for  his  eyes  than  the  marbles  or  the  sculptures  of 
the  Louvre. 

"  You  are  going  to  see  my  mistress,"  said  Mar- 
guerite, "  I  have  warned  her,  but  fear  nothing,  she 
is  as  amiable  as  she  is  good ;  you  can  speak  with- 
out danger  before  her,  she  is  discretion  Itself,  — 
besides,  she  never  sees  anybody,  and  never  goes 
out.  My  master  wishes  to  shield  her  against  the 
enterprises  of  these  dandies,  of  these  worthless  fel- 
lows who  seek  to  cajole  the  poor  girls.  It  is  true 
that  my  little  Blanche  Is  very  pretty  ;  she  would 
turn  the  heads  of  all  our  noblemen,  you  are  go- 
ing to  see  her,  and  you  can  judge  for  yourself; 
here  we  are  at  her  room.  Come  in,  come,  don't 
tremble  so  ;  how  childish  you  are." 

Urbain  was  trembling,  in  fact,  and  his  heart  beat 
so  hard  that  he  was  obliged  to  support  himself  for 
a  moment  against  the  wall.  During  this  time  Mar- 
guerite opened  the  door  and  said  to  Blanche,  — 

"  Here  she  is." 

Blanche  rose  and  came  to  meet  the  young  girl 
whom  her  nurse  had  brought,  smiling  pleasantly 
at  her.  Urbain  raised  his  eyes,  saw  Blanche,  and 
his  emotion  Increased.  He  had  only  been  able 
through  the  panes  of  the  casement  to  perceive  her 
features  very  imperfectly,  and  the  charming  object 
which  now  met  his  gaze  was  a  hundred  times  more 

Vel.  VII 


226    •      THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

beautiful  than  the  image  which  his  memory  and 
his  imagination  had  created.  He  remained  for  a 
moment  stunned,  motionless,  not  daring  to  take 
a  step,  doubting  still  whether  he  could  believe  his 
happiness,  and  looking  with  delight  at  the  lovely 
girl,  who  smiled  at  him  and  took  him  by  the  hand, 
saying  to  him, — 

"  Won't  you  come  in  ?  Come  in  and  sit  down 
and  warm  yourself.  Why,  you're  not  afraid  of 
me,  are  you  ?  " 

"  This  is  the  girl  I  told  you  about,"  announced 
Marguerite,  "  but  she  is  a  little  timid,  though  she 
will  soon  lose  that ;  may  she  always  preserve  her 
modesty  in  Paris." 

Blanche's  soft  hand  slipped  into  that  of  the 
young  bachelor  and  she  led  him  to  the  fireplace. 
On  feeling  the  pretty  fingers  imprinted  on  his 
own,  Urbain  scarcely  breathed,  and  murmured  in 
a  feeble  voice,  — 

"  How  good  you  are,  mademoiselle  ?  " 

"  She  has  a  very  pretty  voice,"  cried  Blanche, 
immediately.  "  Don't  you  think  so.  Marguerite  ? 
A  voice  which  I  seem  to  have  heard  before  ;  it  is 
very  singular,  I  can't  recall  where  I've  heard  it." 

"You  are  mistaken,  my  child,"  said  Margue- 
rite, "  for  myself  I  think  that  Ursule's  voice  is  a 
little  rough.  But  remember  that  we  have  not  much 
time  to  keep  her  here  and  she  is  going  to  tell  us  a 
certain  thing." 

"One  moment,"  said  Blanche,  "let  her  rest  for 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      227 

a  minute,  she  looks  tired.  Do  you  need  any- 
thing?" 

"  No,  I  thank  you,"  said  Urbain,  raising  his 
eyes  on  the  amiable  child,  and  immediately  abas- 
ing them,  for  he  feared  that  she  would  read  in  them 
all  the  love  which  consumed  him  and  it  seemed  to 
him  that  the  moment  was  very  ill-chosen  to  make 
it  known  ;  besides,  he  was  so  happy  near  Blanche 
that  he  wished  to  prolong  the  time,  and,  thanks  to 
his  disguise,  he  could  see  the  sweet  girl  practise  her 
graces,  her  amiability,  and  learn  her  character  much 
better  than  if  he  had  appeared  to  her  in  his  true 
form.  Before  a  lover  the  frankest  girl  is  always 
timid,  embarrassed,  reserved,  while  with  a  person 
of  her  own  sex  she  expresses  without  constraint 
the  feelings  which  she  experiences. 

"And  so  you  are  looking  for  a  place?"  said 
Blanche,  seating  herself  near  Urbain. 

"  Yes,  mademoiselle." 

"  Have  you  been  long  in  Paris  ? " 

**  A  fortnight,  mademoiselle." 

"  And  your  parents  ? " 

"  I  have  none,  mademoiselle.   I  am  an  orphan." 

"  Poor  girl !  that's  like  me,  I  am  an  orphan 
also,  and  if  M.  Touquet  had  not  taken  care  of  me 
I  too  should  have  had  to  go  to  work  to  earn  my 
living." 

"  You,  mademoiselle,"  said  Urbain  ardently, 
but  he  restrained  himself  and  finished  in  a  low 
voice,  "  that  would  have  been  very  unfortunate." 


228         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  My  dear  Blanche,"  said  Marguerite,  "  it  was 
not  that  you  might  tell  her  your  history,  but  that 
she  might  acquaint  us  with  the  secret  she  is  keep- 
ing that  she  came  here.  Now,  Ursule,  speak  my 
child ! " 

Urbain  sighed ;  he  would  much  rather  have  lis- 
tened to  Blanche  than  have  talked  to  Margue- 
rite ;  but  it  was  necessary  to  satisfy  the  old  maid, 
he  needed  her ;  and  it  was  by  exciting  her  curiosity 
that  he  hoped  often  to  see  Blanche.  He  com- 
menced his  recital,  disguising  his  voice,  and  while 
he  spoke  the  beautiful  child  fixed  her  eyes  on  him, 
a  favor  which  he  owed  to  his  costume,  but  which 
often  made  him  lose  the  thread  of  his  discourse. 

"  You  have  doubtless  heard  tell  of  Jeanne  Har- 
viliers,  so  famous  a  century  ago  for  her  witcheries 
and  sorceries." 

"  No,  never,"  said  Marguerite,  drawing  her 
chair  nearer  and  stretching  her  neck,  because  the 
word  sorcery  had  already  produced  its  electrical 
effect  upon  the  old  servant.  "  Tell  us  the  history 
of  this  sorcery,  my  child,  and  try  not  to  omit  a 
single  fact." 

"  Jeanne  Harviliers  was  born  at  Verberie  in  the 
year  1528.  Her  mother,  they  say,  was  a  wicked 
woman,  who  dedicated  her  child  to  the  devil  as 
soon  as  she  came  into  the  world. 

"  When  Jeanne  was  twelve  years  old  the  devil 
presented  himself  to  her  in  the  guise  of  a  black 
man,  armed  and  booted." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       229 

"Dear  nurse,"  said  Blanche,  "can  the  devil 
then  take  any  form  he  pleases  ? " 

"Yes,  of  course,  I've  told  you  so  a  hundred 
times  ;  he  changes  as  he  wishes." 

"  You've  always  said,  dear  nurse,  that  he  shows 
himself  as  a  black  cat." 

"  A  cat  or  a  man,  what  does  it  matter  ? " 

"  I  was  only  afraid  of  cats  before,  now  I  shall 
be  afraid  of  men  also." 

"  Come,  mademoiselle,  if  you  interrupt  this 
young  girl  like  that  we  shall  never  know  her 
story.    Go  on,  my  child  !  " 

Urbain  glanced  quickly  at  Blanche  and  re- 
sumed his  narration. 

"  The  black  man  told  Jeanne  that  if  she  would 
give  herself  to  him  he  would  teach  her  a  thousand 
secrets  by  which  she  could  work  good  or  evil  to 
people  according  to  her  will.  Jeanne  Harviliers 
yielded  to  the  proposition  of  the  devil,  and  pro- 
nounced the  formula  which  he  dictated ;  she  soon 
became  a  famous  magician,  riding  to  the  witches' 
sabbaths  on  a  broomstick. 

"Jeanne  practised  her  art  near  Verberie,  but,  be- 
ing accused  of  sorcery,  she  was  for  some  time 
obliged  to  hide  herself.  She  had  a  neighbor  who 
disclosed  her  whereabouts,  and  Jeanne  asked  the 
devil  to  give  her  a  charm,  that  she  might  revenge 
herself.  He  gave  her  a  powder,  telling  her  to 
place  it  in  a  road  where  her  enemy  was  about  to 
pass,  and  it  would  give  the  latter  a  malady  of 


230         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

which  she  would  die.  Jeanne  did  as  the  devil 
had  told  her,  and  placed  the  charm ;  but  another 
person  passed  first  over  the  road,  and  it  was  she 
who  was  the  victim.  Jeanne,  distressed  at  seeing 
the  sick,  woman,  confessed  to  her  that  she  had 
caused  her  misfortune  and  promised  to  cure  her, 
but  she  could  not  do  as  she  wished  for  she  was 
then  arrested  and  thrown  into  prison.  They  ques- 
tioned her ;  she  confessed  that  she  was  a  sorcerer, 
and  was  condemned  to  be  burned  alive.  She  was 
executed  on  the  last  day  of  April  in  the  year 

1578." 

"  How  is  that?  She  was  a  sorcerer  and  she  let 
them  burn  her?"  said  Blanche  with  astonishment. 

"  Yes,  mademoiselle." 

"  How  fiinny  that  is,  and  what  use  was  it  to 
her  to  be  a  sorcerer  then  ?  ** 

"  Blanche  you  are  far  too  young  to  argue  like 
that,"  said  Marguerite. 

"  And  the  devil,  did  they  burn  him  also  ? " 

"  No,  mademoiselle,  they  could  not  do  that." 

"That's  a  pity,  for  then  we  should  not  need 
to  be  afraid  of  him.  Perhaps  the  devil  has  been 
burned  now." 

"  The  demon  will  always  exist,  my  child  !  " 

"  You've  told  me,  dear  nurse,  that  St.  Michael 
fought  with  him  and  vanquished  him." 

"  Yes,  of  course  he  vanquished  him,  but  that  is 
as  if  he  had  done  nothing.  Now,  Ursule,  go  on  ; 
for  I  do  not  yet  see  in  all  that  you  have  told  us 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       231 

anything  relating  to  yourself,  since  this  Jeanne 
was  burned  close  on  sixty  years  ago." 

"  I  am  coming  to  it,  mademoiselle,"  said  Urbain, 
recalling  his  ideas,  which  Blanche's  beautiful  eyes 
had  turned  to  other  things  than  sorcery.  "  Since 
the  time  of  Jeanne  Harviliers,  they  talk  of  noth- 
ing in  Verberie  and  its  neighborhood  except  the 
witches'  sabbaths  which  were  held  at  the  Pont-aux- 
Reine  on  the  highway  to  Compeigne,  in  the  wood 
of  Ajeux;  and  where  noises  were  heard  of  horse- 
men riding  in  squads,  witches  going  to  their 
sabbaths,  and  wizards  of  all  kinds.  The  good 
inhabitants  of  the  country,  wishing  to  put  them- 
selves on  their  guard  against  these  emissaries  of 
the  devil,  went  to  Charlemagne's  chapel,  which  is 
now  known  as  the  church  of  Saint-Pierre,  and 
asked  the  good  religious  to  give  them  something 
which  would  guarantee  them  against  sorceries  of 
all  kinds." 

"A  very  good  idea,  truly,"  said  Marguerite, 
"  they  could  not  have  acted  more  wisely,  and 
what  did  they  give  them,  my  child  ?  " 

"The  good  fathers  gave  them  a  robe  which 
had  been  worn  by  a  pious  hermit,  who  during  his 
life  had  always  made  the  demons  flee  from  any 
place  where  he  came.  A  tiny  morsel  of  that  robe 
was  sufficient  to  ward  off  all  danger  from  the  one 
who  carried  it.  You  may  imagine  how  anxious 
everybody  was  to  have  a  piece  of  it." 

"  Oh,  I  can  well  believe  it.    If  I  had  been  there 


232         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

there's  nothing  I  wouldn't  have  given  to  obtain  a 
piece." 

"Well  but  dear  nurse,"  said  Blanche,  "is  it 
like  mine." 

"  Hush  !  let  Ursule  finish,  my  child  !  " 

"  Finally,  mademoiselle,  one  of  my  ancestors, 
who  lived  then  had  the  good  fortune  to  get  a 
morsel  of  the  pious  hermit's  robe.  She  left  it  to 
her  daughter  after  her,  who  left  it  to  my  mother, 
from  whom  I  have  it ;  and  that  is  how  this  talis- 
man came  to  me  and  it  is  that  which  makes  me 
afraid  of  nothing  in  Paris,  and  with  which  I  dare 
risk  myself  alone  in  the  streets  at  night." 

"  Oh,  how  singular !  "  cried  Blanche,  "that's  like 
me ;  I  also  have  a  talisman  which  preserves  me 
from  all  danger,  however,  they  won't  even  let  me 
look  out  of  the  window.  That's  because  my  pro- 
tector, the  barber,  does  not  believe  in  talismans." 

"  He's  very  wrong,  mademoiselle,"  said  Ur- 
bain. 

"  Yes,  assuredly  he  is,"  said  Marguerite, "  but, 
my  dear  child,  have  you  yours  on  you  now  ? " 

"  Yes,  mademoiselle.    Oh,  I  always  carry  it." 

**  Let  us  see  this  precious  relic.  Only  to  touch 
it  will  do  one  good." 

Urbain  felt  in  his  apron  pocket  and  drew  forth 
a  small  paper  folded  with  great  care ;  he  opened 
it  and  took  out  a  sample  of  his  breeches  which  he 
presented  to  the  old  servant,  pinching  his  lips  to 
keep  a  serious  face.   Marguerite  who  had  put  on 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       233 

her  glasses  took  the  little  scrap  of  cloth  respect- 
fullyjand  kissed  it  three  times,crying, — 

"  That's  it,  oh,  how  good  that  is  !  that  emits  an 
odor  all  about  it,  an  odor  of  sanctity." 

"  Do  you  think  so,  dear  nurse,"  said  Blanche, 
who  was  looking  at  the  little  sample  of  cloth  in 
surprise,  "  I  should  never  have  thought  that  a  little 
rag  like  that  could  have  any  power." 

"  A  rag !  O  my  dear  Blanche,  speak  more  re- 
spectfully of  this  relic." 

"  My  talisman  is  much  prettier  than  that.  It's 
a  little  piece  of  parchment.  Wait,  here  it  is." 
Saying  these  words  Blanche  opened  her  kerchief, 
and  signed  to  Urbain  to  look  in  her  corset,  half 
disclosing  her  virgin  neck  as  she  spoke,  in  order 
that  the  supposed  Ursule  might  better  perceive 
her  talisman. 

"Ah,  how  charming!"  exclaimed  Urbain  in- 
voluntarily. 

"  Is  it  not,"  said  Blanche,  smiling  ;  "  it's  much 
prettier  than  that  scrap  of  cloth." 

Urbain  had  no  strength  with  which  to  answer, 
he  remained  motionless,  his  eyes  still  fixed  on 
the  place  where  the  lovely  child  hid  her  talisman, 
while  Marguerite,  contemplating  the  fragment  of 
smallclothes,  kissed  it  anew,  repeating, — 

"The  worth  of  that  has  been  well  proven,  which 
makes  it  all  the  more  precious." 

Blanche  fastened  her  kerchief,  and  Urbain,  still 
moved  by  what  he  had  seen,  sighed  deeply. 


234         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,"  said  the  young 
girl,  looking  with  interest  at  her  whom  she  be- 
lieved to  be  a  simple  country  girl.  "  You  seem 
grieved." 

"  Alas,  mademoiselle !  I  was  remembering  that 
I  was  alone  and  without  resources  in  this  city,  that 
I  have  no  parents,  no  friends." 

"  Poor  girl  1  Well,  we  will  be  your  friends. 
Yes,  I  feel  that  I  love  you  already,  Ursule." 

"  Can  it  be  mademoiselle  ?  Ah  !  if  it  were  only 
true!" 

"  Why  do  you  say  if  it  were  true  ?  I  never  say 
what  is  untrue ;  but  what  I  feel  I  say  at  once. 
Isn't  that  natural?  And  do  you  think  that  you 
can  love  me  also  ?  " 

"  Can  I  love  you,"  said  Urbain,  warmly ;  then 
remembering  that  Marguerite  was  there,  he  re- 
sumed less  forcibly,  but  with  an  accent  that  came 
from  his  heart,  — 

"  Yes,  yes,  mademoiselle,  and  all  my  life." 

"  Oh,  it  is  so  nice  to  have  a  friend  of  one's  own 
age,"  said  Blanche,  shaking  the  bachelor's  hand. 
"  At  least  I  shall  have  some  one  with  whom  I  can 
laugh  and  chat.  Marguerite  likes  to  talk  very 
well,  but  she  never  laughs  and  then  she  never 
talks  of  anything  but  magic  and  the  devil.  We 
shall  find  other  things  to  talk  about,  shan't  we, 
Ursule?" 

"  Yes,  mademoiselle." 

"  I  know  very  little  about  anything ;    always 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      235 

alone  in  my  room,  never  going  out,  though  I  have 
a  great  desire  to  do  so  ;  my  protector  never  comes 
to  chat  with  me ;  I  receive  visits  from  one  man 
only." 

"  From  a  man  ?  **  said  Urbain,  anxiously. 

"  YeSj  my  music  master.  Formerly  he  made  me 
laugh,  now  he  wearies  me,  for  he  always  sings 
the  same  thing  to  me." 

Urbain  breathed  more  freely,  and  resumed, — 

"  You  sing,  mademoiselle  ?  " 

"  A  little,"  said  Blanche,  "  and  do  you  sing, 
Ursule?" 

"  Sometimes." 

"That's  better  still.  You  shall  teach  me  the 
songs  of  your  country  and  I  will  teach  you  the 
ones  that  I  know." 

"  You  will  let  me  come  to  see  you  again,  then, 
mademoiselle  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  every  evening,  if  you  can.  Re- 
member that  I  am  very  lonely  by  myself,  in  place 
of  which  I  shall  amuse  myself  with  you.  She  can 
come  to  see  us  every  evening.  Marguerite,  can't 
she?    M.  Touquet  won't  be  angry,  will  he?" 

Marguerite  during  this  conversation  had  re- 
mained in  meditation  and  in  ecstasy  before  Ur- 
sule's  talisman.  She  would  have  given  all  the 
world  to  possess  it  in  her  new  room,  where  she 
had  much  trouble  in  going  to  sleep,  but  the  name 
of  her  master  drew  her  from  these  reflections  and 
she  cried, — 


236       -THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"What  are  you  saying  about  M.  Touquet; 
that  he  knows  we  are  receiving  this  young  girl 
without  his  permission  ?    Oh,  no,  indeed  !  " 

"  But,  dear  nurse,  that's  why  it  is  necessary  to 
ask  him." 

"  Ah,  mademoiselle,"  said  Urbain,  "  he  will  re- 
fuse it,  and  I  shall  be  deprived  of  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you." 

"In  that  case  we  will  say  nothing;  but  if  he 
would  take  you  into  his  service  ?  " 

"  Monsieur  does  not  wish  to  have  anybody  else 
in  the  house.    What  could  Ursule  do  here  ?  " 

"  It's  a  pity,  for  Ursule  must  find  a  place  to 
earn  her  living ;  how  very  disagreeable  it  is  to  have 
a  talisman  which  preserves  you  from  all  danger 
and  allows  you  to  die  of  hunger.  It's  exactly  like 
mine." 

"  Oh,  I  still  have  time  to  wait.  I  have  a  pros- 
pect of  something  before  me,"  said  Urbain,  "  and 
my  expenses  are  so  very  little." . 

"  Had  your  ancestors  ever  any  occasion  to 
prove  the  virtue  of  this  talisman  ? "  said  Mar- 
guerite." 

"  Yes,  mademoiselle,  many  circumstances  prove 
that,  and,  above  all,  my  mother  had  a  very  strange 
adventure." 

**  An  adventure,"  said  the  old  woman,  drawing 
her  chair  to  the  hearth.  At  this  moment  the 
church  clock  struck  nine.  "  O  heavens !  nine 
o'clock,"  said  Marguerite,  "it  is  very  late;  you 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      237 

must  go,  my  child.  If  my  master  perceives  that 
we  have  not  gone  to  bed  he'll  want  to  know  the 
reason ;  come,  it's  necessary  to  part.'* 

**  And  that  adventure  which  she  is  going  to  tell 
us,"  said  Blanche. 

"  That  will  be  for  tomorrow,  if  you  will  permit 
it,'*  said  Urbain. 

"  Oh,  yes,  tomorrow.  Can  she  not  come  tomor- 
row, dear  nurse." 

"  So  be  it,"  said  Marguerite,  who  was  also  curi- 
ous to  hear  it.  "  But  remember  to  be  prudent, 
Ursule,  that  nobody  may  know." 

"  Oh,  I'll  answer  to  you  for  my  silence,  made- 
moiselle." 

"That's  well.  Wait,  here  is  your  talisman. 
Take  care  not  to  lose  it.  Good  heavens !  how 
happy  I  should  be  if  I  had  a  similar  one." 

Urbain  received  the  little  scrap  of  cloth,  drop- 
ping a  curtsey  and  putting  it  in  his  pocket,  while 
Marguerite  took  a  lamp  to  lead  him. 

"You  are  going  alone,"  said  Blanche,  "  per- 
haps a  long  distance." 

"  To  the  Porte  Saint-Antoine.** 

**  O  heavens !  and  are  you  not  afraid  to  be  in 
the  street  so  late  ?  " 

"  Has  she  not  her  talisman  ?  "  said  Marguerite. 

"  Ah,  that  is  true ;  I  shan't  think  about  it  any 
more.  Good-by,  Ursule,  you'll  come  back  tomor- 
row, will  you  not  ?  " 

The  lovely  child  held  out  her  hand  to  Urbain, 


238         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

who  was  about  to  carry  it  to  his  lips,  but  remem- 
bering that  he  was  a  woman  he  was  obliged  to  con- 
tent himself  with  pressing  it  tenderly  and  followed 
Marguerite, after  glancing  sweetly  at  Blanche.  The 
old  woman  reconducted  him  with  the  same  pre- 
caution she  had  taken  in  introducing  him,  and 
closed  the  street  door  softly,  saying  to  him,  — 

"  Good-by  till  tomorrow,  and  be  sure  to  take 
good  care  of  your  talisman." 


CHAPTER   XV 

Love    and    Innocence.      A   Shower    of  Rain 
AND  THE  Talisman 

Urbain  reentered  his  old  dwelling  in  a  state  of 
rapture  and  intoxication  difficult  of  description. 
The  sight  of  Blanche,  the  sound  of  her  sweet 
voice,  her  charm,  her  youthful  candor,  her  touch- 
ing grace  and  simplicity,  had  increased  his  love ; 
what  he  had  seen  of  the  beautiful  girl,  had  im- 
measurably exceeded  the  expectations  he  had 
formed  of  her,  from  the  slight  glimpse  he  had 
obtained  of  her  on  the  previous  occasion,  height- 
ened though  it  was  by  a  lover's  imagination ;  and 
when  he  now  reflected  that  he  should  see  her 
again  on  the  morrow, —  on  many  morrows,  per- 
haps—  that  he  should  hear  her  and  speak  to  her 
again,  that  her  soft  hand  would  again  rest  without 
fear  in  his,  lie  could  hardly  contain  himself. 

And  yet  he  could  not  but  feel  what  a  pity  it  was 
that  he  could  not  confess  to  the  lovely  child  his 
real  identity  and  the  feeling  with  which  she  had 
inspired  him,  at  first  sight.  For  Urbain  was  pain- 
fully conscious  that  he  must  not  hurry  the  disclo- 
sure of  his  secret  for  fear  of  alarming  the  timid  girl, 
and  that  he  should  first  seek  to  win  Blanche's  confi- 

339 


240         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

fidence ;  in  his  feminine  costume  that  would  be 
very  easy,  she  had  already  said  that  she  loved 
him.  It  is  true  that  the  confession  of  this  senti- 
ment was  made  to  Ursule,  but,  in  fact,  it  was 
Urbain  who  had  inspired  her  with  it. 

During  the  day  the  bachelor  resumed  his  mas- 
culine garments,  and  as  soon  as  night  returned  he 
attired  himself  in  his  feminine  costume,  in  which 
he  had  already  begun  to  acquire  more  ease  of 
manner ;  besides,  the  young  servant  was  always 
ready  to  help  the  youth  when  he  wished  to  dis- 
guise himself,  she  was  very  obliging  to  him,  and 
did  not  neglect  to  give  him  lessons.  Urbain  prof- 
ited by  them,  because  a  young  man  understands 
better  how  to  tear  a  kerchief  than  to  put  it  on,  and 
a  youth  who  is  foolishly  in  love  has  many  grave 
distractions,  so  that  the  help  of  the  young  servant 
was  very  necessary  to  him.  Urbain  was  very 
prompt  at  his  rendezvous,  and  Marguerite  intro- 
duced him  with  the  same  ceremonial  as  on  the 
evening  before.  Blanche  gave  him  a  most  amiable 
welcome.  She  went  to  meet  him,  and  as  he  was 
making  her  a  modest  curtsey  the  artless  child 
kissed  him  on  each  cheek.  Urbain  was  over- 
whelmed and  in  the  ardor  of  his  joy,  had  not  the 
voice  of  Marguerite  recalled  him  to  himself,  he 
would  have  pressed  Blanche  to  his  heart,  and 
would  have  returned  a  hundredfold  the  kisses  he 
had  received.  But  the  old  woman,  always  eager  to 
hear  a  story  of  extraordinary  adventures,  particu- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      241 

krly  when  it  related  to  a  talisman,  pushed  Urbain 
to  the  side  of  the  hearth,  and  said,  — 

"Come,  children,  don't  waste  time  with  idle 
ceremony  ;  you  know  how  quickly  it  passes  when 
one  is  relating  interesting  things.  Let  us  sit  down 
and  Ursule  will  tell  us  the  adventure  which  her 
mother  experienced." 

Urbain,  still  much  moved  by  Blanche's  kiss,  be- 
gan a  story  which  he  had  composed  in  the  morning, 
and  which  delighted  Marguerite,  because  it  proved 
the  marvellous  powers  of  the  talisman.  The  story 
finished,  the  old  woman  asked  to  be  allowed  to 
look  at  the  relic ;  she  was  persuaded  that  after 
having  touched  it  the  evening  before  she  ran  less 
danger  during  the  night  in  her  room.  Blanche 
then  chatted  with  Urbain  and  sang  to  him  in  a  low 
tone  one  of  the  songs  which  she  knew.  The  in- 
genuous child  had  only  known  the  pretended  Ur- 
sule since  the  evening  before,  but  she  already  re- 
garded her  as  a  sister,  called  her  "  my  dear,"  and 
related  to  her  all  that  concerned  herself;  for 
Blanche,  brought  up  in  retirement,  had  not  learned 
to  hide  her  feelings  or  to  feign  those  which  she  did 
not  experience ;  her  heart  was  pure  and  her  words 
were  only  the  expression  of  what  she  felt. 

Blanche  did  not  fail  to  sing  to  Urbain  her  fa- 
vorite refrain,  and  the  latter  trembled  with  pleasure 
on  seeing  that,  despite  the  precautions  of  the  bar- 
ber, his  accents  were  graven  on  Blanche's  memory, 
who  said  to  him, — 

Vol.  vn 


242         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"The  first  time  that  I  heard  you  speak,  it 
seemed  to  me  that  I  still  heard  the  voice  which 
had  sung  at  night  under  my  window.  That  was  a 
very  pretty  voice,  and  yours,  Ursule,  resembles  it 
a  httle.  What  a  pity  that  you  don't  know  the 
romance  that  they  were  singing." 

"  I  do  know  it,"  said  Urbain  ;  "  at  least  I  think 
I  know  it,  for  I  have  often  heard  it  sung,  and  that 
makes  me  remember  it." 

"  How  fortunate !  Sing  it  to  me,  Ursule,  I  beg." 

"Butif  M.  Touquet— " 

"  Oh,  he  is  in  his  room ;  besides,  you  can  sing 
very  low.  Wait !  Just  as  I  expected.  Marguerite 
is  asleep ;  now  she  won't  be  able  to  scold  us." 

In  fact  her  deep  contemplation  of  the  little  scrap 
of  Urbain's  smallclothes  had  put  the  old  servant 
to  sleep.  Urbain  was  almost  alone  with  her  he 
adored.  His  heart  palpitated  with  joy,  long  sighs 
issued  from  his  breast,  and  he  was  obliged  to  turn 
away  his  eyes  that  they  might  not  meet  Blanche's 
adorable  gaze. 

"  Well,  now,"  said  the  amiable  girl,  pouting  a 
little,  which  rendered  her  still  more  seductive, 
"  aren't  you  going  to  sing  to  me  ?  That  would  be 
very  naughty,  for  it  would  give  me  a  great  deal  of 
pleasure  to  hear  that  song.  I  should  like  to  learn 
it  myself.  I  beg  of  you,  Ursule ;  you  see  Mar- 
guerite is  asleep  ;  come,  don't  refuse  me." 

"  I  refuse  you  anything  ?  Of  course  I'll  sing 
for  you,  mademoiselle." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      243 

"  Oh,  you  are  very  obliging,  and  I  will  kiss  you 
with  a  good  heart." 

Urbain  needed  not  the  temptation  of  so  sweet 
a  recompense.  However,  he  wished  immediately 
to  deserve  it.  He  sang,  and  Blanche  listened  with 
rapture ;  the  young  man,  yielding  to  the  emotion 
of  his  heart,  sang  with  much  expression  and  feel- 
ing, but  his  voice  no  longer  resembled  that  of  a 
woman,  and  any  other  than  the  ingenuous  Blanche 
would  have  perceived  the  change ;  but  the  latter 
was  far  from  suspecting  the  truth,  and  with  her 
head  turned  towards  Urbain,  remained  motionless, 
her  eyes  fixed  on  him  and  seeming  to  fear  lest 
she  should  lose  a  word,  while  she  exclaimed  from 
time  to  time,  — 

"  Mon  Dieu,  that  is  it !  that's  the  same  thing ! 
That  affects  me  just  as  it  did  the  other  night.  Ah, 
Ursule,  sing  again." 

However,  the  songs  ceased,  for  Urbain  had  not 
forgotten  the  promised  recompense.  For  some 
moments  Blanche  remained  motionless,  seeming 
to  be  listening  still ;  at  last  she  aroused  herself 
from  her  ecstasies,  saying,  — 

"  It's  very  singular  what  a  strange  effect  that 
romance  has  upon  me." 

"  Is  it  disagreeable  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no ;  if  it  were  I  should  not  want  to  be 
always  hearing  it,  and  still  it  makes  me  feel  rather 
sad ;  it  makes  me  sigh  ;  but  all  the  same,  Ursule, 
you  will  teach  it  to  me,  will  you  not  ? " 


244         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Yes,  mademoiselle ;  but  you  promised  me  —  ** 

"  To  kiss  you.    Oh,  I'll  do  that  willingly." 

Without  further  asking,  Blanche  imprinted  her 
cherry  lips  on  Urbain's  burning  cheek.  This  time 
the  latter  was  about  to  return  her  kiss,  and  had 
already  taken  the  young  girl  in  his  arms  when 
Marguerite,  in  sneezing,  just  missed  falling  into 
the  fire,  and  awoke  herself  with  a  start,  crying, — 

"  Dear  good  patron  saint,  save  me ;  I  see  the 
black  man  and  the  sorcerer  of  Verberie.'* 

"  Where  is  he,  dear  nurse  ?  "  said  Blanche,  leav- 
ing Urbain,  who  was  vexed  that  he  had  not  sooner 
finished  his  singing. 

"  Where  ?  "  said  Marguerite,  rubbing  her  eyes ; 
"  where  is  what  ?   What  did  I  say  ? " 

"You  said  you  saw  the  sorcerer." 

**  Ah,  that  is  because  I  was  thinking  of  him, 
apparently.  Come,  Ursule,  it  is  time  for  you  to 
go,  my  child." 

'*  That's  a  pity,  I  was  going  to  tell  you  of  an 
adventure  which  happened  to  my  aunt  which  was 
even  more  marvellous  than  the  others.** 

"  Oh,  that's  delightful ;  that  will  be  for  tomor- 
row," said  Blanche.  "That  will  suit  you,  dear  nurse, 
won't  it  ?  You  see  my  good  friend  suspects  noth- 
ing ;  besides,  if  he  should  see  Ursule  and  be  angry, 
well,  I'll  take  all  the  blame  on  myself  and  I  can 
pacify  him." 

"  Come,  then,  tomorrow  night,  and  we  will  learn 
ail  about  your  aunt's  adventures." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      245 

"  Yes,  Mademoiselle  Marguerite,  but  will  you 
have  the  goodness  to  give  me  back  my  talisman." 

"  Yes,  my  dear  child,  that's  right.  O  my  God ! 
what  have  I  done  with  it  ?  Has  Satan  tricked  me 
out  of  it  ?    I  was  holding  it  just  this  minute." 

"  Wait,  dear  nurse,  here  it  is,"  pointing  to  the 
hearth,  "  you  have  let  it  fall  in  the  cinders." 

"  Faith,  so  I  did,"  answered  the  old  woman, 
picking  up  the  little  scrap  of  cloth.  "  Oh,  my 
goodness  !  it's  a  little  scorched." 

**  Oh,  that's  all  right,  mademoiselle,"  said  Ur- 
bain,  "that  won't  have  taken  away  any  of  its 
virtue." 

"  No,  assuredly  not,  my  dear  child,  and  if  it 
had  been  burned  its  ashes  would  have  retained 
the  same  properties." 

Urbain  took  his  talisman,  said  "  good-by  "  to 
Blanche,  repeating  to  her,  "  I  shall  see  you,  to- 
morrow," and  left  the  barber's  house. 

Several  days  rolled  away  and  every  evening  the 
young  bachelor  had  the  good  fortune  to  see 
Blanche.  He  was  incessantly  inventing  new  stories 
to  pique  Marguerite's  curiosity,  and  the  old  wo- 
man regularly  opened  the  door  of  the  alley  at 
seven  o'clock.  The  fictitious  Ursule's  presence 
had  become  necessary  to  Blanche  and  Marguer- 
ite. The  latter  experienced  great  pleasure  in  hear- 
ing her  relate  the  doings  of  the  magicians,  and  the 
young  girl  in  learning  her  cherished  romance; 
but  Marguerite  did  not  always  go  to  sleep,  and 


246         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

even  when  she  was  awake  Blanche  wished  Urbain 
to  sing ;  the  latter  obeyed  her,  but  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  old  woman  from  suspecting  him  he  was 
careful  to  disguise  his  voice,  and  Blanche  ex- 
claimed with  vexation,  — 

"  That's  not  at  all  good !  You  don*t  sing  so 
prettily  as  usual  today,  and  it  doesn't  give  me  the 
same  pleasure." 

While  Urbain  was  elated  with  the  happiness  of 
seeing  Blanche,  and  drinking  from  her  eyes  the 
sweetest  sentiment ;  while  the  young  girl  was  giv- 
ing herself,  without  restraint,  to  the  pleasure  which 
LJrsule's  society  afforded  her,  and  in  confiding  to 
the  latter  her  slightest  thoughts ;  and  while  old 
Marguerite,  her  head  filled  with  frightful  stories 
and  miraculous  deeds  done  by  the  sorcerer  of  Ver- 
berie,  was  securing  herself  against  the  snares  of 
Satan  by  rubbing  between  her  fingers  every  even- 
ing the  little  scrap  of  the  bachelor's  breeches, — 
what  was  passing  in  the  little  house  of  the  Vallee 
Fecamp  ?  was  the  brilliant  Julia  still  there  ?  and 
was  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle  taking  the  trouble 
to  feign  a  little  love  in  order  to  subdue  the  young 
Italian. 

The  barber,  having  received  the  price  of  his 
services,  disquieted  himself  very  little  as  to  what 
was  passing  in  the  small  house.  Chaudoreille,  who 
never  left  the  gambling-houses  while  he  had  money 
in  his  pocket,  had  not  appeared  at  the  barber's  for 
a  month,  but  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  appeared 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      247 

at  his  friend's  towards  the  middle  of  the  day. 
The  Gascon's  face  was  longer  then  usual.  His 
ruff,  all  in  rags,  had  been  stained  in  several  places, 
and  the  feather  on  his  hat  had  been  replaced  by 
the  gold-colored  rosette  which  formerly  decorated 
Rolande's  handle.  Chaudoreille's  piteous  face 
made  the  barber  smile. 

"  Where  do  you  come  from,"  said  he,  "  and 
what  have  you  been  doing  since  I  saw  you  last  ? " 

"  I've  been  very  unfortunate,"  said  Chaudo- 
reille,  heaving  a  big  sigh,  and  drawing  from  his 
belt  the  old  silk  purse,  which  he  shook  without 
producing  a  single  sou.  "  You  see,  my  friend,  I'm 
reduced  to  zero." 

"  How's  that  ?  do  you  mean  to  say  that  noth- 
ing remains  to  you  of  the  sum  I  gave  you." 

"  Not  a  penny,  my  dear  fellow.  I've  been 
robbed  in  a  shameful  manner.** 

"  That  is  to  say,  you  have  been  gambling.** 

"Yes,  that's  true;  I've  played,  but  with  rob- 
bers. They  have  tricked  me  in  an  infamous  fash- 
ion. If,  at  least,  they  had  been  amiable  about  it, 
one  knows  well  that  among  people  accustomed  to 
play  there  are  a  thousand  little  ways  in  which  one 
can  make  fortune  favorable,  but  to  despoil  a 
friend,  a  comrade —  it's  horrible  !  Til  never  play 
again  in  my  life.  Say  now,  don't  you  want  me 
to  go  to  the  little  house  to  see  my  dear  friend 
Marcel  ? " 

"  On    the   contrary,    I   forbid   you    to    do    so. 


248         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Without  the  marquis'  order  nobody  should  allow 
himself  to  go  there." 

"  That's  vexatious,  and  how  did  tae  adventure 
end?" 

"  What  does  that  matter  to  you  ?  For  the  mat- 
ter of  that  I  have  not  seen  the  marquis  again, 
but  from  the  moment  I  ceased  to  be  employed  the 
intrigue  was  nothing  to  me ;  besides,  it  will  end 
like  all  the  others.  It  is  a  caprice  which  will  last 
for  some  days  and  will  be  succeeded  by  another," 

"  That's  correct ;  but  the  little  one  appeared  to 
me  to  have  some  strength  of  mind.  She  said  some 
very  peculiar  things  to  me  ;  she  asked  me,  among 
other  things,  if  I  knew  your  parents." 

"  My  parents,"  said  the  barber,  with  visible 
emotion,  "  that's  singular." 

"  Yes,  very  singular.  I  told  her  you  were  from 
Lorraine  and  that  that  was  all  I  knew  about  you." 

"  My  parents,"  repeated  Touquet,  striding  about 
the  room.  "  I  am  almost  certain  that  I  have  none. 
My  poor  father  is  undoubtedly  dead.  Oh,  I  was 
a  very  worthless  fellow  in  my  youth  !  Precocious 
in  my  passions,  a  taste  for  play  and  a  thirst  for 
gold  caused  me  to  commit  a  thousand  excesses." 

"  Yes,  the  follies  of  youth.  I  know  all  about 
that.  As  for  me  at  sh:  years  old  I  was  flogged  for 
having  stolen  a  leg  of  mutton  out  of  the  dripping- 
pan.  At  ten  for  having,  in  a  fit  i>l  abairaction, 
taken  my  grandmother's  purse  to  go  and  play  at 
little  quoits ;  at  twelve  years  old  I  took  a  rabbit 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK     249 

off  the  spit  and  put  in  its  place  my  old  aunt's  cat ; 
but  in  my  ardor  to  hide  my  larceny  I  forgot  to 
skin  the  cat,  which  was  roasted  with  its  hair  on. 
Happily  my  father  was  short-sighted,  and  he 
thought  it  was  a  little  wild  boar;  at  fifteen 
years — " 

"  What  does  it  matter  what  you  did  ? "  cried 
the  barber,  impatiently,  "  Did  the  young  woman 
say  anything  else  about  me  ?  " 

"  No,  but  if  you  like,  I'll  go  and  draw  it  from 
her,  adroitly." 

"  Idiot !  you  forget  that  she  is  the  marquis*  mis- 
tress ?  When  her  reign  is  ended  I  shall  see  her, 
and  I  shall  know."  The  barber  said  nothing  fur- 
ther and  would  not  answer  Chaudoreille,  and  the 
latter,  after  having  uselessly  repeated  several  times 
that  he  had  been  fasting  since  the  evening  before, 
on  perceiving  that  Touquet  paid  him  no  atten- 
tion left  the  shop  in  an  ill-humor,  murmuring  be- 
tween his  teeth,  — 

"  People  who  become  rich  are  always  niggardly 
and  stingy.  That's  a  fault  that  I  shall  never 
have." 

Some  hours  after  this  conversation,  the  barber, 
returning  to  his  customers,  met  near  the  Louvre 
the  brilliant  Villebelle,  who,  wrapped  in  his  mantle, 
seemed  to  be  still  in  high  feather. 

"  I  have  succeeded,  my  dear  fellow,"  said  he, 
drawing  Touquet  under  a  portico,  where  no  one 
could  hear  them.    "  Julia  has  given  herself  to  me ; 


250         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

but  truly  the  conquest  was  more  difficult  than  I 
had  thought.  The  young  girl  is  passionate,  roman- 
tic ;  she  wishes  to  be  loved,  and  I  have  made  her 
believe  that  I  love  her.  In  fact  her  singular  char- 
acter, her  pride,  united  with  her  tenderness,  her 
strange  conduct,  and  her  speeches,  nearly  en- 
thralled me.  She  spoke  to  me  about  Estrelle.  I 
don't  know  how  she  knew  that  adventure." 

"  The  young  girl  knows  everything,  evidently," 
said  the  barber  to  himself. 

"For  the  rest,"  resumed  the  marquis,  "she 
doesn't  seem  to  love  you  much,  my  dear  Touquet ; 
you  are  in  her  black  books.  She  says  that  you  are 
a  master  knave." 

"  What,  monseigneur  ? " 

"  She  refuses  my  presents  ;  she  wishes  nothing 
but  my  love,  it's  truly  superb.  Despite  that,  I  am 
living  with  her ;  I  did  not  care  for  her  to  remain 
in  the  little  house,  that  would  have  embarrassed 
me.  I  believe  upon  my  honor  that  I  love  her  a 
little.  But  I  see  two  very  pretty  women  going  into 
the  jewelry  shop  down  there.  I  must  go  there  in 
order  to  see  them  nearer."  While  saying  these 
words  the  marquis  departed  hastily,  and  the  bar- 
ber returned  home,  thinking  of  Julia  and  vexed 
that  he  had  not  learned  from  the  marquis  where 
he  had  lodged  his  young  Italian. 

Chaudoreille  had  left  Touquet's  house  in  a  very 
bad  humor.  An  empty  stomach  is  usually  accom- 
panied by  a  melancholy  spirit.    The  Gascon  cheva- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      251 

lier  while  making  philosophical  reflections  on  the 
egotism  of  man,  the  caprice  of  fortune  and  the 
manner  in  which  one  could  win  at  piquet  while 
slipping  the  aces  to  the  bottom  of  the  pack,  ar- 
rived at  the  Saint  Germain  fair.  Beside  the  differ- 
ent spectacles  assembled  in  this  place  to  attract 
idlers,  strangers  and  young  gentlemen  came  there 
to  play  different  games  of  cards,  of  dice,  ninepins 
and  skittles. 

Chaudoreille  walked  among  the  groups  formed 
around  these  games  and  looked  with  a  hungry  eye 
at  the  pastry  exposed  before  the  booths.  He 
stopped  near  the  eating  places  trying  to  breathe  at 
least  the  odor  of  the  cooking,  but  such  delights 
have  no  power  to  fill  an  empty  stomach. 

"  By  jingo  !  "  said  Chaudoreille  all  of  a  sudden, 
pulling  his  hat  down  over  his  eyes  and  pulling  his 
ruff  up  about  his  neck.  "  It  shall  not  be  said  that 
I  did  not  dine.  A  man  of  genius  always  has  re- 
resources,  and  his  wit  should  furnish  him  that 
which  his  purse  refuses." 

Immediately  the  chevalier,  walking  with  a  deter- 
mined step,  threaded  the  crowd  and  turned  to- 
wards the  neighborhood  where  some  young  pro- 
vincials were  playing  skittles  and  drinking  white 
wine.  Chaudoreille  looked  at  them  out  of  the  cor- 
ner of  his  eye  then,  seizing  his  moment,  he  crossed 
the  place  where  they  were  playing,  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  to  receive  a  blow  upon  the  legs  from  a  ball 
which  one  of  the  players  was  rolling. 


252         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Look  out !  look  out ! "  cried  the  young  man 
who  had  hurled  the  ball ;  but  Chaudoreille  pre- 
tended not  to  hear  and  stopped  only  when  he  was 
struck.  He  made  a  horrible  grimace  on  receiving 
the  blow,  and  fell,  murmuring, — 

"  Zounds  !   my  dinner  will  cost  me  dearly." 

The  two  players  came  up  to  him  and  picked 
him  up,  offering  their  excuses  although  they  were 
not  in  the  wrong.  But  Chaudoreille  was  so  pale 
and  appeared  to  suffer  so  deeply  and  made  such 
pitiful  contortions  that  the  two  young  men  were 
much  moved ;  first  they  offered  him  a  glass  of 
wine  to  restore  him.  The  wounded  man  accepted 
and  drank  three  glasses,  one  after  the  other;  he 
could  not  yet  walk  and  they  proposed  to  him  to 
go  into  the  wine  merchant's,  who  would  give  him 
something  to  eat.  He  did  not  allow  them  to  re- 
peat the  invitation ;  the  two  provincials  ordered 
dinner  and  invited  Chaudoreille  to  be  of  their 
party.  Our  man  was  therefore  installed  at  a  table 
with  them,  ate  and  drank  for  four,  gave  them  some 
lessons  in  skittles,  and  perceiving  that  they  were 
novices  of  an  obliging  humor,  and  not  quarrel- 
some, he  rose  at  the  conclusion  of  the  dessert  and 
demanded  a  pistole  from  them  to  indemnify  him 
for  the  stroke  of  the  ball  which  they  had  given 
him. 

The  young  men  looked  at  him  in  surprise,  per- 
ceiving that  they  had  been  duped  and  that  they 
had  entered  into  conversation  with  a  gentleman  of 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      253 

very  little  delicacy.  Chaudoreille  held  himself  very 
upright,  his  left  hand  on  his  hip  and  his  right  hand 
caressing  the  handle  of  his  sword,  rolling  his  eyes 
like  the  damned,  while  passing  the  end  of  his 
tongue  over  his  mustaches.  The  poor  provincials, 
not  caring  to  have  a  duel  with  a  man  who  appeared 
to  have  decided  to  split  everyone  in  two  if  they 
did  not  satisfy  him,  hastened  to  present  the  sum 
demanded  by  their  amiable  guest.  The  latter  re- 
ceived it  with  a  gracious  smile,  then,  with  the  tone 
of  a  man  delighted  with  himself,  he  bowed  to 
them,  saying, — 

"  Good-by,  my  young  friends,  try  to  remem- 
ber the  strokes  which  I  have  taught  you." 

While  saying  these  words  the  chevalier  quickly 
departed,  no  longer  remembering  the  blow  which 
he  had  received.  With  a  full  stomach  and  a  pistole 
in  his  belt,  Chaudoreille  was  very  well  pleased 
with  his  day's  work.  The  white  wine  which  he  had 
drunk  had  aroused  his  enterprise  and  inclined  him 
to  undertake  some  adventures.  He  felt  especially 
carried  towards  love,  but  if  it  is  the  custom  of 
Bacchus  to  render  one  enterprising,  the  odor  of 
wine  and  the  speech  of  a  tipsy  man  are  not  auxil- 
iaries favorable  to  love.  It  had  been  dark  for 
some  time  when  Chaudoreille  left  the  fair,  ogling 
all  the  women  whom  he  met  and  murmuring  be- 
tween his  teeth, — 

"  By  jingo  !  I  must  make  a  conquest  this  even- 
ing.   I  am  beginning  to  get  tired  of  my  portress, 


254         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

who  is  forty-five  years  old  and  has  one  leg  shorter 
than  the  other  ;  it  is  true  that  she  overwhelms  me 
with  kindnesses.  She  bleaches  my  linen  and  re- 
pairs my  ruff;  but  what  does  a  little  infidelity 
by  the  way  matter,  my  Venus  will  know  nothing 
about  it." 

Chaudoreille  had  reached  the  Rue  Montmartre 
when  he  saw  a  woman  pass  by  him,  dressed  like  a 
country  woman.  She  was  alone ;  the  chevalier  ogled 
her  and  turned  back  to  follow  her.  The  carriage 
of  the  dame  had  something  very  decided  about 
it,  which  was  pleasing  to  Chaudoreille ;  but  she 
walked  with  such  long  steps  that  he  was  obliged 
to  run  to  follow  her.  On  reaching  her  side  the 
gallant  tried  to  enter  into  conversation  with  her  by 
making  one  of  those  pretty  propositions  in  use 
among  those  gentlemen  who  make  love  in  the 
streets,  and  seek  their  conquests  by  lantern  light. 
She  did  not  answer  Chaudoreille,  but  walked 
faster.  Our  man  was  not  at  all  abashed ;  he  con- 
tinued to  trot  by  her  side  doing  the  amiable,  put- 
ing  his  feet  in  the  streams,  which  he  did  not  see, 
and  splashing  his  beauty  while  whispering  sweet 
nothings.  However,  the  person  whom  he  was  fol- 
lowing had  reached  the  Rue  Saint-Honore,  a  short 
distance  from  the  Rue  des  Bourdonnais.  Chaudo- 
reille, receiving  no  answer,  and  seeing  that  nothing 
was  to  be  gained  by  his  compliments,  decided  to 
attempt  strong  measures.  He  approached  the 
country  woman    and   pinched  her  sharply,  and 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK     255 

received  in  return  a  slap  in  the  face,  so  well  ap- 
plied that  it  sent  him  up  against  a  stone  post  four 
feet  away. 

Urbain  was  going  according  to  his  custom  to 
visit  Blanche,  when  on  the  way  he  made  the  con- 
quest of  Chaudoreille.  After  disengaging  himself 
in  so  heroic  a  manner  the  young  bachelor  ran  up 
to  the  barber's  house,  entering  the  passageway, 
where  some  one  came  immediately  to  open  to  him, 
and  reached  Blanche,  still  much  agitated  by  the 
adventure. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  my  dear  Ur- 
sule  ?  "  said  Blanche.   "  You  seem  excited." 

"  Just  now  in  the  street  two  men  fighting  fright- 
ened me." 

"Poor  child,  but  didn*t  you  have  your  talis- 
man ? " 

"  Oh,  yes,  but  in  spite  of  that  I  was  afraid." 

"  I  can  well  believe  it,"  said  Blanche,  "  to  see 
men  fighting  must  be  very  unpleasant.  Come,  sit 
down,  my  dear  friend." 

Blanche's  sweet  words  soon  made  Urbain  forget 
his  adventure.  According  to  his  promise,  it  was 
necessary  that  he  should  recount  something  sin- 
gular which  had  happened  to  one  of  his  cousins. 
He  had  promised  to  recite  it  the  evening  before, 
and  Marguerite  was  in  a  hurry  to  hear  it.  The 
old  servant  needed  distraction;  she  had  had  a 
frightful  dream  in  the  night  and  in  the  morning 
when  she  awakened  she  had  seen  a  bat  against  her 


256         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

window,  all  of  which  was  very  disquieting,  and 
since  the  morning  she  had  not  been  easy. 

Urbain  commenced  his  story.    He  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  rain,  which  fell  in  torrents,  and  which 
the  wind  blew  violently  against  the  panes. 
.    "  What  horrible  weather!  "  said  Blanche. 

"  Yes,"  said  Marguerite,  drawing  closer  to  the 
fire  at  each  gust  of  wind,  "  this  night  will  be  diffi- 
cult to  pass.  I  do  not  know,  but  it  seems  to  me 
that  something  extraordinary  is  going  to  happen ; 
that  bat  that  I  saw  —  and  in  my  dream  all  those 
people  were  riding  to  the  sabbath  on  broomsticks. 
That  surely  indicates  something." 

"  Certainly,"  said  Urbain,  and  the  old  woman, 
to  reassure  herself,  rubbed  the  talisman  between 
her  hands. 

Urbain's  story  had  lasted  for  a  long  time.  Mar- 
guerite, however,  had  said  nothing,  as  she  was  not 
anxious  to  go  upstairs  to  bed.  Blanche,  who  never 
saw  Ursule  leave  without  regret,  had  taken  care  not 
to  observe  that  it  was  getting  late  and  the  young 
bachelor  was  not  the  one  who  would  first  think  of 
breaking  up  the  party.  However,  the  clock  struck, 
and  they  counted  eleven  strokes. 

"  O  heavens  !   eleven  o'clock,"  cried  Blanche. 

"  O  my  God ! "  said  Marguerite,  trembling, "  in 
an  hour  it  will  be  midnight." 

"  But,  dear  nurse,  Ursule  cannot  go  so  late  and 
besides  by  the  time  she  gets  there  —  Wait  1  do 
you  hear  the  rain,  it  is  falling  in  torrents.    How 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       257 

can  she  go  to  the  Porte  Saint-Antoine  in  such 
weather  as  this  ?    It's  impossible." 

"  It  is  certain,"  said  Urbain,  "  that  the  roads  are 
very  bad.  There  are  no  lanterns  and  often  one 
puts  one's  foot  in  holes  that  one  docs  not  see." 

"  Poor  Ursule,  her  talisman  will  not  prevent  her 
from  being  drenched,  will  it?  " 

"  It  is  true  it  doesn't  guarantee  one  against  the 
effect  of  rain,"  responded  Urbain,  sighing. 

"  What  is  to  be  done  ? "  said  Marguerite. 

"  It's  very  easy,  my  dear  nurse,  Ursule  can  sleep 
with  me,  and  tomorrow,  as  soon  as  day  breaks, 
she  can  go  without  making  a  noise.  Will  you, 
Ursule?" 

Urbain  was  for  some  moments  unable  to  an- 
swer, for  these  words  of  Blanche,  "She  can  sleep 
with  me,"  had  so  disturbed  his  whole  being  that 
he  did  not  know  what  he  was  doing.  At  last  he 
murmured  in  a  changed  voice,  — 

"  If  you  think  well  of  it,  mademoiselle,  I  think 
well  of  it  also." 

"  Most  certainly  I  wish  it,  do  I  not  dear  nurse  ? 
We  could  not  let  her  go  out  at  this  time  of  night. 
Why  don't  you  answer? " 

Marguerite  saw  no  harm  in  the  country  wo- 
man's sleeping  with  Blanche,  but  rather  hoped  to 
gain  an  advantage  thereby  in  keeping  all  night  the 
precious  relic ;  and,  as  her  mind  had  been  struck 
with  the  idea  that  some  misfortune  was  going  to 
happen  to  her,  the  possession  of  the  little  scrap  of 

VoU  VII 


258         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

cloth  seemed  to  her  like  a  benefaction  of  Provi- 
dence. 

"  It's  true,"  said  she,  at  last,  "that  the  weather 
is  frightful,  and  if  Ursule  will  not  forget  to  go 
away  before  daybreak  —  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  dear  nurse,  and  if  she  is  asleep  I 
promise  you  I  will  wake  her." 

"  Very  well,  then  I'm  willing  that  she  should 
remain." 

"  Oh,  how  delightful,"  said  Blanche,  "  we  shall 
sleep  together,  Ursule.  I  have  never  slept  with 
anyone.    How  we  shall  chat  and  laugh." 

"No, indeed,  no, indeed,"  said  Marguerite;  "on 
the  contrary  you  must  go  to  sleep  without  mak- 
ing any  noise  that  monsieur  could  hear." 

"  Very  well,  we  will  go  to  sleep,  dear  nurse,"  re- 
sponded the  amiable  child,  and  she  added  in  Ur- 
bain's  ear,  "  We  will  talk  very  low." 

"  Well,  in  that  case  I  will  go  to  bed,"  said  the 
old  servant  hesitating  to  return  that  which  she 
held  in  her  hand.  "  My  dear  Ursule,"  she  said  at 
last,  "  you  have  nothing  to  fear  here.  If  you 
would  permit  me  to  keep  your  talisman  for  this 
night  only,  because  I  sleep  in  a  room  that  is  not 
safe  and  I  can't  get  that  bat  out  of  my  head." 

"  Oh,  keep  it.  Mademoiselle  Marguerite,"  said 
Urbain,  "  may  it  do  you  much  pleasure." 

"  Yes,  keep  it,  dear  nurse,"  said  Blanche,  "  be- 
sides we  have  mine,  that  will  be  enough  for  us, 
will  it  not,  Ursule  ? " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      259 

"But  —  yes,  I  believe  so,  mademoiselle." 

Marguerite,  delighted  to  possess  a  safeguard  for 
the  whole  night,  lighted  her  lamp  and  turned  to- 
wards the  door,  saying, — 

"  Good  night,  my  children,  good  night.  Mercy, 
what  a  gust  of  wind.  Ursule,  you  must  go  tomor- 
row before  daybreak." 

"Yes,  mademoiselle." 

**  Go  to  bed  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  extin- 
guish your  light,  that  no  one  may  suspect  any- 
thing." 

"  Be  easy,  dear  nurse,"  said  Blanche,  "we'll  soon 
put  it  out." 

Marguerite  took  her  lamp  and  left  the  room, 
Blanche  closed  the  door  after  her. 

"  Shut  your  door  tight,"  said  the  old  woman. 

"  Yes,  dear  nurse,"  answered  the  young  girl, 
and  she  drew  the  bolt. 


CHAPTER  XVI 
How  Will  It  End 

When  one  loves  ardently,  and  when  one  sees 
that  moment  approach  which  heralds  the  consum- 
mation of  his  dearest  wishes,  when  one  is  for  th^ 
first  time  entirely  alone  with  the  beloved  of  his 
heart,  one  experiences  an  uneasiness,  an  agitation 
which  one  cannot  quell,  and  which  one  cannot  rea- 
sonably account  for ;  it  is  almost  as  though  one 
feared  that  one's  being  would  be  unable  to  sup- 
port the  realization  of  this  exquisite  happiness,  as 
though  one  doubted  whether  hopes  so  sweet,  and 
which  have  hitherto  been  so  unattainable,  can  ever 
be  realized. 

It  is,  above  all,  when  one  loves  with  the  candor 
and  good  faith  of  early  youth  that  one  yields  him- 
self tremblingly  to  the  first  interview  which  sounds 
a  knell  to  all  the  cherished  past.  Why,  at  the 
very  moment  of  happiness,  should  one  sigh  and 
fear  ?  Poor  mortals,  it  seems  that  accustomed  to 
sorrow,  wc  shall  always  be  astonished  at  being 
happy.  In  truth,  this  astonishment  passes  with  age 
and  experience  ;  then  these  delightful  rendezvous 
do  not  cause  us  the  same  emotion  ;  we  regard  them 
only  as  distractions,  and  laugh  at  the  uneasiness,  the 

a6o 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      261 

embarrassment,  which  accompanied  our  first  inter- 
course with  the  ladies.  Ungrateful  that  we  are, 
we  mock  at  the  source  of  our  happiness,  at  those 
sweet  sensations  which  time  has  dissipated,  with 
all  the  other  illusions  of  our  youth,  after  the  man- 
ner of  the  fox  in  the  fable. 

"  How  awkward  we  were  at  eighteen  years  of 
age,"  we  say ;  "  how  embarrassed  and  constrained 
in  a  tete-a-tete,  trembling  like  a  leaf  as  we  went  to 
the  rendezvous ;  what  a  difference  now,  we  go  to 
them  singing,  we  reach  that  which  we  desire  more 
quickly,  we  are  a  hundred  times  more  pleasing." 
Yes,  but  our  hair  is  becoming  grizzly,  our  figure 
has  become  rotund,  and  some  rather  deep  lines 
are  imprinted  at  the  corners  of  our  eyes. 

If  the  approach  of  long-desired  happiness  causes 
in  love  an  inexplicable  trouble,  what  should  be 
the  state  of  one  who,  all  of  a  sudden,  without  hav- 
ing had  even  the  slightest  hope,  finds  himself  in  a 
position  where  he  may  obtain  the  greatest  heights. 
Such  was  Urbain's  situation;  he  loved  Blanche 
with  the  delirium,  the  intoxication,  which  one  ex- 
periences at  nineteen  for  his  first  love,  and  he 
found  himself  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night  alone  with 
the  object  of  his  tenderness  in  a  little  chamber, 
separated  from  all  neighbors,  with  the  lovely  child 
drawing  the  bolt  and  beginning  to  undress  herself 
to  go  to  bed.  What  lover  at  such  a  moment  could 
preserve  his  reason  ?  Poor  Blanche,  I  tremble  for 
thee !    In  truth  thou  hast  a  talisman,  but  I  have 


262         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

no  great  faith  in  its  power ;  above  all,  if  you 
allow  yourself  to  remain  with  Urbain  in  the  sit- 
uation in  which  he  is  placed.  The  young  bache- 
lor tremblingly  paused,  sighing  and  saying  not  a 
word  he  remained  standing  in  a  corner  of  the 
room,  while  Blanche  prepared  the  bed,  coming  and 
going,  jumping  and  laughing,  and  finally  began  to 
undress  herself. 

"  O  heavens ! "  said  Urbain  to  himself,  trem- 
bling, coloring,  and  lowering  his  eyes,  but  raising 
them  from  time  to  time  to  look  at  Blanche.  "  O 
my  God  1  what  must  I  do.  This  is  not  the  mo- 
ment to  declare  myself,  to  make  known  to  her 
who  I  am,  to  implore  her  pardon,  and  to  confess 
my  love  to  her ;  but,  yes,  it  is  indeed  the  moment. 
However,  if  that  confession  should  frighten  her, 
if  her  cries  should  bring  somebody  here,  or  if  she 
should  drive  me  from  the  room.  That  will  be 
such  a  pity  when  I  can,  by  deceiving  her  a  little 
longer,  share  her  bed,  and —  oh,  no !  that  would  be 
very  ill  done  !  But  how  pretty  she  is !  great  God, 
how  charming !  Ah,  I  will  not  look  at  her."  And 
the  rascal  looked  at  her  all  the  time,  slyly,  it  is 
true,  but  the  more  he  looked  at  her  the  more  he 
felt  his  resolution  imperilled ;  for  each  moment 
Blanche  took  off  some  part  of  her  costume,  already 
only  a  little  petticoat  covered  her  seductive  form, 
and  the  straight  corset  which  had  imprisoned  her 
pretty  figure  was  laid  upon  the  bed. 

Blanche  stopped ;  however,  it  was  time.     She 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      263 

looked  at  Urbain,  who  was  still  standing  there, 
motionless  and  silent. 

"  Come,  Ursule,  why  don't  you  undress  your- 
self? "  said  the  young  girl,  approaching  the  bache- 
lor. 

"  Because,  mademoiselle,  I  do  not  know  why, 
I'm  afraid." 

*'  What  ^  you're  afraid  ?  Are  you  afraid  with 
me,  Ursule  ? " 

"  Afraid,  mademoiselle  ?  Yes,  I  feel  that  I  am 
very  much  afraid." 

"  Why,  that's  just  like  Marguerite,  and  I,  who 
am  much  younger, am  a  great  deal  braver.  It  is  true 
that  the  wind  blows  very  hard,  but  it  won't  carry 
us  away  from  here.  How  she  trembles  1  Why 
Ursule,  how  can  you  go  every  evening  alone  as 
far  as  the  Porte  Saint-Antoine  and  yet  you  trem- 
ble with  me  in  my  chamber." 

"Ah,  that's  very  different." 

*'  Is  it  because  Marguerite  has  carried  off  your 
talisman  ?  But  we  still  have  mine.  Wait,  do  you 
see  when  I  take  off  my  corsets  I  fasten  It  here,  in- 
side my  chemise,  for  dear  nurse  says  that  it  Is  ne- 
cessary above  all  to  have  it  during  the  night,  and 
that  it  is  when  they  are  In  bed  that  the  sorcerers 
come  to  torment  young  girls.  Is  that  true,  Ur- 
sule ?  Do  they  sometimes  try  to  torment  you  in 
the  night  ? " 

"Yes  —  no,  mademoiselle."  Urbain  did  not 
know  what  he  was.  saying,  for  his  eyes,  despite 


264        THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

himself,  turned  towards  the  perfidious  talisman 
which  seemed  to  be  there,  like  the  serpent  on  the 
tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good  and  evil,  to  make 
him  succumb  to  temptation. 

**  You  are  shivering  with  cold,  Ursule,  we  shall 
be  much  better  in  bed  ;  we  shall  be  warmer.  Do 
you  want  me  to  help  you  undress  ?  How  you  are 
sighing.  Is  it  because  you  are  in  some  trouble  ? 
You  must  tell  me  all  about  it.  It  is  so  pleasant 
to  have  some  friend,  to  be  able  to  tell  her  all  that 
one  thinks.  Let's  see ;  first,  we'll  take  oflFthis  cap 
which  hides  all  your  face.  I  am  sure  that  mine  will 
become  you  better,  let  us  try  it.  But  sit  down 
first ;  you're  so  big,  my  dear  Ursule,  that  I  can't 
reach  your  head." 

The  young  bachelor  allowed  himself  to  be  led 
to  a  chair.  He  seated  himself,  and  the  lovely  child, 
standing  before  him,  began  to  loosen  the  pins 
which  held  his  cap  and  his  big  brown  curls.  Ur- 
bain  allowed  Blanche  to  take  ofiF  his  headdress. 
He  had  decided  to  make  himself  known,  besides 
sooner  or  later  she  must  know  the  truth,  and  in 
order  not  to  frighten  her  it  was  better  that  the 
metamorphosis  should  be  gently  made.  The  last 
pin  was  taken  out,  Blanche  lifted  the  cap  and  the 
young  man's  brown  curls  escaped  on  all  sides  and 
fell  on  his  forehead  and  on  his  neck.  The  young 
girl  uttered  an  exclamation  and  stopped.  Urbain, 
fearing  already  that  she  was  about  to  fly,  lightly 
surrounded  her  waist  with  his  two  arms. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      165 

"  How  funny  that  is,"  said  Blanche,  at  last, 
looking  at  Urbain  with  astonishment.  "  Your  hair 
isn't  done  at  all  like  that  of  all  the  women  I  ever 
saw.  Is  it  the  fashion  to  wear  it  like  that  in 
Verberie?" 

**  Yes,  mademoiselle." 

"  Do  you  know,  Ursule,  that  the  more  I  look 
at  you  the  more  you  look  like  a  man  to  me." 

"  Somebody  told  me  that  before,  mademoiselle." 

"  But  it's  really  astonishing.  Your  hair  is 
dressed  exactly  like  that  of  the  men  I  see  passing 
in  the  street." 

"  Do  you  dislike  it  so  ? " 

"  No  —  however — it  produces  a  very  singular 
effect  on  me." 

**  If  I  were  a  man  would  you  be  angry  ? " 

"  Mercy,  yes,  I  believe  I  should,  for  then  you 
couldn't  be  my  friend  any  more.  I  couldn't  love 
you  as  a  sister." 

"  But  Blanche,  if  I  were  a  man  I  should  be 
your  lover.  A  most  tender,  a  most  faithful  lover. 
I  could  love  you  to  distraction,  and  love  is  much 
stronger  than  friendship.  Then,  if  you  will  share 
my  affection,  could  there  exist  a  mortal  happier 
than  I  ?  Dear  Blanche,  if  I  could  only  possess 
your  heart.  Is  there  anything  more  precious  on 
earth  ?  To  obtain  it,  I  would  give  the  last  drop 
of  my  blood." 

While  speaking  Urbain,  engrossed  by  his  love, 
no  longer  sought  to  disguise  his  voice.    His  arms 


266         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

still  surrounded  Blanche  and  the  young  girl,  greatly 
moved,  dropped  on  the  knees  of  the  young  bache- 
lor, saying  in  a  feeble  voice,  — 

"  Mon  Dieu,  Ursule,  don't  say  such  things  to 
me.  They  make  me  uneasy.  I  don't  know  what's 
the  matter  with  me.  I  feel  that  I  wish  to  cry. 
What  use  is  it  to  tell  such  falsehoods,  to  speak  of 
love  and  of  loving  ?  Ursule,  somebody  has  told 
me  that  it  is  very  wrong  to  talk  about  those  things. 
O  heavens  !  since  you  haven't  your  cap  on,  I  dare 
not  look  at  you." 

"  Blanche  1  dear  Blanche !  " 

"  Well  now,  you're  still  pretending  to  be  a  man, 
and  it  frightens  me.  Come,  Ursule,  be  a  woman 
again,  I  beg  of  you." 

"  No,  Blanche,  I  will  not  deceive  you  further. 
It  is  a  man  —  it's  —  the  most  tender  lover  who  is 
near  you." 

By  a  sudden  movement  Blanche  rose  and  es- 
caped to  the  other  end  of  the  room ;  Urbain  did 
not  seek  to  restrain  her,  but  fell  on  his  knees  and 
held  out  his  hands  towards  her,  seeming  to  await 
her  forgiveness,  while  the  young  girl  looked  at 
him  with  eyes  which  expressed  more  surprise  than 
fear. 

**  What  ?  are  you  really  a  man  ? "  said  the  amia- 
ble child,  after  a  moment. 

"Yes,  mademoiselle." 

"  Are  you  quite  sure  of  it  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      267 

"  O  good  heavens  !  don't  come  near  me,  I  beg 
of  you." 

"  Ah,  don't  tremble  so,  I  am  at  your  feet,  the 
most  submissive  of  lovers." 

"  Of  lovers  !  I  don't  know  what  a  lover  is." 

"  It  was  that  I  might  be  successful  in  seeing 
you,  that  I  might  make  known  to  you  all  the  love 
that  I  feel  for  you,  that  I  have  dared  to  take  this 
disguise.  Without  that  how  should  I  have  man- 
aged to  see  you  when  they  keep  you  in  prison  in 
this  room  ? " 

"  I  never  go  out  of  it.  I  should  not  listen  to 
you  perhaps.    How  did  you  come  to  love  me  ? " 

"It  was  through  the  window  that  I  first  saw 
you.  Some  singers  were  standing  under  the  case- 
ment. You  seemed  to  listen  to  them  with  great 
pleasure.  That  night  I  returned  and  sang  under 
your  window  the  romance  which  you  like  so 
much." 

"  That  was  you  ? "  cried  Blanche,  joyfully  ;  and 
already  forgetting  her  first  fear  she  looked  at  Ur- 
bain  with  more  assurance.  Her  pure  and  inno- 
cent mind  could  not  conceive  all  the  danger  of 
her  situation.  A  more  experienced  young  girl 
would  have  cried  and  have  shown  much  anger, 
but  Blanche,  whose  soul  was  a  stranger  to  all  dis- 
simulation evinced  the  same  confidence  in  the 
young  bachelor  as  she  did  in  Ursule,  because  she 
had  no  other  thought  which  could  make  her 
blush.    "Why!  was  that  you?"  she   repeated. 


268         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  It  isn't  astonishing  that  I  found  such  a  resem- 
blance in  your  voice,  but  it  wasn't  good  of  you, 
monsieur,  to  lie  to  us  like  that.  I  was  quite  sure 
that  you  were  Ursule  and  I  loved  you  like  a  dear 
friend,  and  can  I  continue  to  love  you  like  that 
now: 

"  And  what  should  prevent  you,  if  I  have  not 
displeased  you  ? " 

"  Oh,  no !  you  haven't  displeased  me.  I  even 
think  that  you  look  better  without  a  cap,  but  it's 
not  allowable  to  love  a  man." 

"  Why  not,  when  that  man  wishes  to  become 
your  husband  ? " 

"  Marguerite  says  that  all  men  are  deceivers  and 
then,  O  heavens  !  the  devil  also  takes  the  form 
of  a  man,  and  presented  himself  thus  to  the  sor- 
cerer of  Verberie.  O  mon  Dieu,  if  you  should  be 
the  devil ! " 

"  O  Blanche,  what  a  thought ! " 

"  But  no,  you  look  too  sweet  —  you're  not  all 
black,  and  you  haven't  any  claws." 

"  My  name  is  Urbain  Dorgeville.  My  par- 
ents were  honest  and  respected.  I  am  an  orphan. 
I  haven't  much  fortune,  but  when  one  loves  truly 
is  it  necessary  to  have  much  in  order  to  be  happy  ? 
Dear  Blanche,  will  you  forgive  me  ? " 

"  He  calls  me  his  dear  Blanche,  how  funny  that 
is !  And  if  I  don't  forgive  you,  what  will  happen?  ** 

"  You  will  reduce  me  to  despair  and  nothing 
will  remain  for  me  but  to  die." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       269 

"  Oh,  I  don't  wish  that  you  should  die,"  cried 
the  amiable  child,  "  and  I  will  forgive  you,  for  I 
should  be  very  vexed  if  I  caused  you  any  grief." 

"  Can  it  be,"  said  Urbain,  rising  and  running 
towards  Blanche.  The  young  girl  made  a  move- 
ment of  fear,  then,  recovering  herself,  she  smiled, 
and  signed  to  Urbain  to  seat  himself  near  her. 
The  happy  bachelor  placed  his  chair  close  up  to 
that  of  Blanche  and  very  gently  took  one  of  her 
hands,  which  the  ingenuous  child  allowed  him  to 
retain. 

"  You  forgive  me  for  loving  you,  then  ?  "  said 
he,  looking  at  her  tenderly. 

"  Of  course,  I'm  obliged  to,  since  you  say  that 
it  will  make  you  die  if  I  forbid  you  to." 

"  And  you,  also,  will  love  me  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know.  I  loved  Ursulc  very 
much,  however,  but  you  —  it  wouldn't  be  the 
same  thing,  would  it  ? " 

"  It  would  be  much  sweeter." 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  " 

"  I  am  sure  of  it,  by  what  I  experience  at  this 
moment." 

"You  are  very  happy  now,  then?  " 

"  Yes,  very  happy  ;  for  you  are  no  longer  afraid 
of  me,  are  you  ? " 

**  No,  I  am  not  afraid  of  you,  but  why  do  you 
hold  my  hand  like  that  ? " 

"  I  should  like  to  press  it  always,  to  hold  it  in- 
cessantly against  my  heart." 


270         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  And  is  that  yet  another  proof  of  love  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Blanche,  but  if  it  displeases  you  I  will 
not  keep  this  dear  hand." 

"  Oh,  that  doesn't  displease  me,  but  yours  is 
burning.  It  makes  mine  warm.  And  why  are 
you  trembling?  Is  it  love  that  makes  you  like 
that  ? " 

"  Yes,  it  burns  me,  it  consumes  me." 

"  Oh,  it  must  be  very  unpleasant  to  love  like 
that." 

The  young  bachelor,  to  solace,  no  doubt,  the 
malady  which  devoured  him,  carried  Blanche's 
hand  to  his  lips  and  covered  it  with  kisses.  The 
young  girl  allowed  him  to  do  so,  although  the 
passionate  glances  of  her  lover  were  beginning  to 
produce  a  strange  feeling  of  uneasiness  in  her 
hezrt.  Her  breast  rose  more  frequently,  she 
sighed,  and  said  in  a  faint  voice,  — 

"  Urbain  —  Ursule  ;  mon  Dieu,  I  don't  know 
whw^t's  the  matter  with  me,  but  I  am  afraid  I've 
caught  your  malady.  Wait !  see  how  I  am  trem- 
bling now !    Oh,  my  talisman,  my  talisman  !  " 

Poor  Blanche,  what  will  you  do  ?  While  prom- 
ising to  himself  to  respect  the  virtue  of  the 
young  girl,  Urbain  yielded  to  the  ardor  which  in- 
flamed him,  and  pressed  Blanche  tightly  in  his 
arms,  begging  her  not  to  tremble ;  Blanche,  as- 
tonished, did  not  repulse  him,  for  excessive  inno- 
cence has  also  its  dangers,  but  at  this  moment 
somebody  knocked  violently  at  the  door  of  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK     271 

room  and  the  barber's  stern  voice  uttered  these 
words,  — 

"  Open  the  door,  Blanche  !  I  command  you  to 
open  the  door !  " 

The  young  bachelor  seemed  petrified,  and 
Blanche  remained  motionless  in  Urbain's  arms, 
which  still  enfolded  her. 


THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 
Volume   II 


CONTENTS 
VOLUME  II 

CHAPTER   I  ^Ao. 

Who  Could  Have  Expected  It  ? i 

CHAPTER   II 
Happy  Moments 23 

CHAPTER    III 
A  Day  with  Chaudoreille 38 

CHAPTER  IV 
The  Little  Supper 54 

CHAPTER  V 
Having    Money    and     Power    One    May    Dare 

Everything 74 

CHAPTER   VI 

The  Rendezvous.  Strokes  of  Fortune.  The  Hotel 

de  Bourgogne.    The  Sedan  Chair  .     .     .     .      102 

CHAPTER  VII 
Poor  Urbain 126 

CHAPTER  IX 
The  Chateau  de  Sarcus I35 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  IX 
The  Meeting.     Projects  of  Revenge     ....     164 

CHAPTER  X 
The  Little  Closet  Again 183 

CHAPTER   XI 
The  Storm  Brews 197 

CHAPTER   XII 
The  Return  to  the  Chateau ,     .     212 

CHAPTER   XIII 
The  Marquis  Visits  Blanche  at  Night    ....     226 

CHAPTER   XIV 

Urbain*s  Visit   to  the   Marquis.     Chaudoreille*s 

Last  Adventure 242 

CHAPTER   XV 

Julia's  Story.     What  was  Contained  in  the  Port- 
folio   258 


CHAPTER   I 
Who  Could  Have  Expected  It 

The  slap  in  the  face  which  had  been  so  vigor- 
ously applied  to  the  impertinent  Chevalier  Chau- 
doreille  by  Urbain  in  his  character  of  a  good- 
looking  young  woman,  though  richly  deserved, 
had  been  so  unexpected,  had  so  thoroughly 
stunned  the  poor  little  specimen  of  humanity 
that  he  had  remained  for  some  moments  sup- 
ported by  the  stone  post  against  which  he  had 
been  flung  by  the  force  of  the  blow,  entirely  un- 
conscious as  to  his  whereabouts. 

But  as  his  wits  returned  to  their  normal  capa- 
city, and  he  fully  realized  the  indignity  to  which 
he  had  been  subjected  in  being  overcome  by  a 
blow  from  a  woman,  at  a  moment,  too,  when  he 
thought  his  success  certain,  the  little  fellow  drew 
himself  up  with  fierce  determination,  and,  as  he 
rubbed  his  still  tingling  and  burning  cheek,  he 
exclaimed, — 

"  Oh,  hang  it  all  1  Is  it  likely  I  will  submit  to 
such  treatment.  I  shall  know  how  to  revenge 
myself,  young  Amazon,  little  as  you  may  think 
so  at  the  present  moment.  Never  shall  it  be 
said  that  Venus  withdrew  from  the  transports  of 

Vol.  VIII       I 


2  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Mars ;  that  slap  in  the  face  shall  prove  costly  to 
her  virtue." 

Immediately  he  followed  on  the  steps  of  his 
Venus,  who  was  dashing  along,  jumping  over  the 
streams  which  came  in  her  way.  Chaudoreille's 
sharp  little  eyes  recognized  the  person  whom  he 
was  pursuing  just  at  the  moment  when  Urbain 
reached  the  barber's  house  and  entered  the  alley- 
way, shutting  the  door  immediately  after  him. 

Chaudoreille  knew  Touquet's  house  so  well  that 
his  distance  from  the  pretended  country  woman 
could  not  prevent  him  from  recognizing  her  place 
of  retreat,  and  it  was  with  extreme  surprise  that 
our  poursuivant  d'amour  perceived  that  his  beauty 
had  taken  refuge  in  the  house  of  his  friend,  Tou- 
quet.  He  approached  the  alley,  presuming  that 
she  might  inadvertently  have  left  the  door  open, 
but  it  was  closed  ;  besides,  the  person  he  had  fol- 
lowed had  not  hesitated  for  an  instant  in  the  choice 
of  a  hiding-place,  all  of  which  seemed  to  indicate 
that  the  barber's  house  had  been  her  destination. 
This  incident  gave  rise  to  many  conjectures  on 
Chaudoreille's  part,  awakening  his  lively  curios- 
ity ;  he  decided  not  to  leave  the  house  until  the 
departure  of  the  one  whom  he  had  seen  enter,  and 
walked  up  and  down  from  the  Rue  des  Mauvaiscs- 
Paroles  to  the  Rue  Saint-Honore. 

Time  passed  and  Chaudoreille  vainly  watched, 
with  his  eyes  directed  to  the  house,  noticing  that 
there  was  still  a  light  in  Blanche's  room.   Soon  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  3 

rain  began  to  fall  and  the  wind  blew  violently  ;  but 
the  chevalier,  though  inadequately  protected  by  a 
penthouse,  under  which  he  had  taken  refuge,  did 
not  dream  of  leaving  the  place,  and  wrapped  him- 
self as  well  as  he  could  in  his  little  cloak,  say- 
ing,— 

"  She  must  come  out  sooner  or  later.  What  the 
deuce  !  can  she  be  Touquet's  mistress  ?  Oh,  hang 
it !  I  must  seek  the  clue  to  this  enigma.  The 
light  is  still  burning  in  my  beautiful  scholar's 
room.  Hem !  I  have  certain  suspicions.  That 
devil  of  a  slap  in  the  face  was  given  to  me  with  so 
much  force  that  it  makes  me  believe  that  my 
Venus  may  perhaps  have  a  beard.  Patience,  she 
will  either  come  out  or  I  shall  go  in  1 " 

Poor  lovers  !  While  you  were  enjoying  so 
much  the  pleasure  of  being  together,  while  you 
were  beginning  to  understand  each  other  and  to 
exchange  loving  glances,  in  which  Blanche  no 
longer  showed  any  timidity,  you  had  no  suspicion 
that  at  a  short  distance  from  you  a  cursed  man 
had  his  eyes  directed  to  your  wind6w  and  pro- 
posed to  disturb  your  happiness  ;  and  all  because 
the  success  of  his  shuffling,  the  white  wine,  and 
Urbain's  fictitious  charms  had  mounted  to  Chau- 
doreille's  head. 

Eleven  o'clock  had  long  since  struck.  We  know 
what  had  taken  place  upstairs ;  now  let  us  see 
what  had  taken  place  below. 

Chaudoreille,  unable  longer  to  contain  himself. 


4  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

decided  to  knock  at  the  barber's  door.  The  lov- 
ers had  not  heard  him,  because  at  that  moment 
Urbain  was  kissing  Blanche's  soft  little  hand,  and 
in  so  agreeable  an  occupation  one  is  not  liable  to 
notice  what  takes  place  in  the  street.  Marguerite 
was  snoring  in  a  manner  which  did  not  indicate 
fear ;  in  truth,  she  had  gone  to  sleep  with  the 
precious  talisman  at  her  side. 

But  the  barber  was  not  asleep  ;  whether  it  was 
because  of  the  storm  or  the  wind,  or  from  some 
other  cause.  Master  Touquet,  who  rarely  slept 
peacefully  in  his  bed  at  night,  had  not  yet  gone 
up  to  his  room,  and  was  pacing  slowly  in  his  back 
shop,  ever  gloomy  and  preoccupied,  and  mur- 
muring at  intervals,  — 

"  Cursed  night !  Why  do  these  shadows  inces- 
santly disturb  my  rest  ?  As  soon  as  daylight  dis- 
appears my  torments  recommence.  I  have  gold 
— yes,  I  have  gold,  but  I  no  longer  enjoy  my 
natural  rest.  I  shall  sell  this  house;  I  shall  go 
far  from  here,  very  far.  I  shall  return  to  my  coun- 
try, my  father,  if  he  is  still  living.  He  will  be 
very  much  astonished  at  the  change  in  my  for- 
tune. He  cursed  me  when  I  left  the  country  — 
but  I  will  ask  him  to  forgive  me ;  yes,  he  will 
surely  forgive  my  early  faults  when  he  sees  that 
I  am  rich  and  respected.  I  shall  not  tell  him  all ; 
no,  I  shall  not  tell  him  how  I  acquired  this  for- 
tune." 

A  bitter  smile  flickered  on  the  barber's  pale 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  5 

lips  and  he  returned  to  his  reflections,  from  which 
he  was  drawn  by  the  knocking  at  the  door. 

Touquet  started  with  fright,  but  immediately 
appearing  ashamed  of  himself,  took  his  lamp  and 
went  quickly  towards  the  door.  He  did  not  expect 
anyone  so  late,  but  supposed  that  the  Marquis  dc 
Villebelle,  finding  himself  in  that  neighborhood, 
was  perhaps  seeking  him  in  regard  to  some  new 
love  intrigue. 

As  he  drew  near  the  door  he  recognized  Chau- 
doreillc's  voice,  calling,  — 

"Open  the  door,  Touquet.  Open  the  door. 
Don't  be  afraid,  it's  me,  but  it  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary that  I  should  speak  to  you." 

The  barber  opened  the  door;  and  Chaudo- 
reille,  whose  soaked  garments  were  glued  to  his 
lean  figure,  which  appeared  even  more  attenuated 
than  usual,  being  all  shrivelled  up  under  his  cloak, 
came  into  the  alley  huddled  together,  as  if  he 
were  afraid  that  his  head  would  hit  the  little  lat- 
tice-work over  the  door. 

"  What  the  devil  has  brought  you  here  at  this 
hour  ?  "  said  the  barber,  shutting  his  door,  while 
the  Gascon  looked  towards  the  end  of  the  alley 
as  though  he  were  trying  to  see  someone.  Finally, 
he  put  his  finger  on  his  mouth  and  said  in  a  low 
voice,  — 

"  Are  you  alone  just  now  ?  ** 

"Yes,  certainly." 

**  You  have  no  visitors  ? " 


6  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Why,  no,  nobody,  I  tell  you." 

"  Then  it  is  urgent  that  I  should  speak  with 

>» 

you. 

The  barber  returned  into  the  lower  room,  and 
Chaudoreille  followed  him,  walking  on  his  tip- 
toes and  turning  to  the  right  and  left,  as  though 
he  were  looking  for  someone. 

"  Come,  what  have  you  got  to  say  ? "  said 
Touquet.  "  What  means  this  visit,  so  near  mid- 
night ?  Did  you  think  that  I  should  be  inclined 
to  sleep  you  ?  Go.  There  are  still  gambling  dens 
open  in  Paris  where  you  can  find  a  bed,  but  my 
house  shall  not  serve  as  a  shelter  for  nighthawks." 

Chaudoreille,  without  appearing  in  the  least 
disconcerted,  listened  to  Touquet,  shaking  his  hat 
meanwhile,  and  wringing  his  mantle ;  he  smiled 
with  a  mischievous  air  as  he  listened  to  the  bar- 
ber's last  words,  and  answered,  — 

"  Your  house  !  By  jingo,  you  make  a  good 
deal  of  fuss  about  your  house.  We  shall  see  pres- 
ently whether  you  receive  any  suspicious  persons." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  "  cried  Touquet, 
angrily. 

"  Hush !  Don't  make  so  much  noise,  I  beg  of 
you.    Don't  wake  the  cat  up,  she  is  asleep." 

"  Chaudoreille,  I'm  losing  patience.  Say  what 
you  want,  or  I'll  be  the  death  of  you." 

"  Well,  what  the  deuce !  I  came  to  do  you  a 
service,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  that  shouldn't 
make  you  angry.    Listen  now,  but  I  beg  of  you 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  7 

don't  lose  your  temper,  for  that  will  make  me 
break  the  thread  of  my  discourse." 

The  barber  restrained  himself  as  well  as  he 
could,  and  Chaudoreille,  after  passing  his  cuflF 
over  the  edge  of  his  hat  to  give  it  a  lustre,  com- 
menced his  story  in  a  low  voice,  — 

"  I  was  going  this  morning  to  Saint-Germain's 
fair  and  found  myself  without  money,  something 
which  very  often  happens  with  me.  I  had  eaten 
nothing  since  yesterday." 

"You  have  eaten  and  drunk  since,  I'll  answer 
for  it." 

"Yes,  certainly,  thanks  to  my  genius.  I  was 
making  some  rather  sad  reflections  on  the  insta- 
bility of  my  luck  at  piquet,  the  treacherous 
chances  of  lansquenet  and  the  lack  of  solidity  in 
gambling  —  ** 

"I  should  like  to  make  you  reflect  at  this 
minute  on  the  strength  of  a  good  stick." 

"  Hush,  don't  interrupt  me.  I  perceived  at  the 
fair  two  young  men,  youths,  you  know ;  some  of 
those  faces  which  seem  to  say,  *  Who  will  come  and 
do  me  ?  *  those  faces  without  mischief  which  are 
a  veritable  good  fortune  for  men  of  parts.  The 
poor  little  fellows  were  playing  at  skittles." 

"Come  to  the  point.  You  are  abusing  my 
patience." 

"  This  all  leads  up  to  the  matter  which  regards 
you.  I  approached  the  innocents  and  showed 
them  a  new  stroke  which  they  did  not  know,  I'll 


g  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

answer  for  it.  In  short,  we  dined  together,  and 
I  only  took  a  pistole  from  them  for  the  lesson, 
which  was  very  reasonable,  but  if  they  had  refused 
me  I  would  have  spitted  them  both  like  sparrows. 
Don't  stamp  your  foot,  I'm  nearing  the  end.  I 
was  returning  gayly,  according  to  my  habit,  when 
I  met  a  country  woman  in  the  street  who  seemed 
to  me  agreeable,  although  I  saw  little  of  her. 
Her  carriage  was  free  and  unconstrained,  she 
was  big  and  strong;  I  was  very  much  taken  by 
her.  I  caught  up  to  her  and  I  said  some  charm- 
ing things  to  her.  Would  you  believe  it  ?  not  a 
word  in  response ;  I  repeated  them,  still  no  an- 
swer ;  I  approached  her  and  pinched  her,  and,  my 
dear  fellow,  I  received  a  most  vigorous  slap  in 
the  face." 

"Well,  hang  it!  she  did  well.  Finish  your 
chatter  if  you  don't  wish  to  receive  a  second." 

"  Stunned  for  an  instant,  I  soon  recovered  my 
wits.  I  pursued  the  traitress.  I  saw  her  enter— 
where  do  you  suppose  ?  —  your  house." 

"  She  came  into  my  house  ?  It  is  impossible ; 
you  are  deceived." 

"  No,  by  all  the  devils !  I  know  your  dwelling 
well  enough.  She  came  in  by  the  alleyway  and 
shut  the  door  immediately." 

"  What  time  was  it  then  ? " 

"About  seven  o'clock.  And  I  can  answer  for 
it  that  she  didn't  come  out,  for  I  haven't  stirred 
from  the  front  of  the  house." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  9 

"  What,  wretch,  that  woman  has  been  so  long 
in  my  house,  and  you  only  now  come  to  tell  me  ? " 

"  What  do  you  expect  ?  I  didn't  know  what 
to  do ;  between  you  and  I,  I  thought  the  dame 
came  to  see  you,  but  seeing  that  there  was  still  a 
light  in  my  scholar's  room,  I  thought — " 

"  A  light  in  Blanche's  room  ? " 

"  Why,  yes,  by  jingo !  There's  one  there  at 
this  moment,  from  which  I  concluded  —  " 

The  barber  hastily  arose,  lit  a  second  lamp, 
took  his  sword  and  directed  his  steps  towards  the 
staircase  at  the  back,  saying  to  Chaudoreille, — 

"  Remain  here  and  wait  for  me." 

"Why,  don't  you  want  me  to  come  with 
you?" 

"  Remain,  here,  I  tell  you,  but  if  you  have  de- 
ceived me,  tremble ;  your  chastisement  shall  be 
proportioned  to  my  anger." 

"  May  the  devil  fly  away  with  him,"  said 
Chaudoreille,  ensconcing  himself  in  a  corner  of 
the  room.  "  I  came  to  render  him  a  service  and 
he's  going  to  flog  me  if  he  doesn't  find  the  guilty 
person.  That  slap  in  the  face  may  be  followed 
by  something  still  more  cruel." 

Touquet  ran  rapidly  up  the  stairs  to  Blanche's 
room ;  he  knocked,  and  ordered  the  young  girl  to 
open  the  door;  we  have  seen  the  effect  which 
these  unexpected  words  produced  on  the  young 
couple  within  the  chamber. 

Urbain  remained  motionless,  his  arms  still  cm- 


lo  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

bracing  the  young  girl,  who  was  only  half  dressed. 
In  a  second  all  the  suspicions  which  the  situation 
would  give  rise  to,  in  the  mind  of  the  person  who 
had  discovered  them,  flashed  across  him.  Blanche, 
still  innocent  and  pure,  though  her  virtue  had 
been  endangered,  Blanche  would  be  adjudged 
guilty,  and  he  was  the  cause  of  it.  How  could  he 
prevent  it  ?  All  these  thoughts,  rapid  as  lightning, 
transpired  during  the  time  which  elapsed  before 
the  barber  knocked  for  the  second  time,  and  loudly 
reiterated  in  a  threatening  voice  the  order  which 
he  had  given.  Urbain  glanced  at  the  chimney, 
seeing  only  that  way  of  escaping  from  sight.  He 
was  about  to  run  to  it  when  Blanche  stopped  him. 
She  had  already  recovered  from  her  first  fright, 
and  said  to  him,  with  a  calmness  which  astonished 
him,  — 

"  Where  are  you  going  ? " 

"  To  hide  myself." 

*'  No,  no,  it  is  unnecessary  for  you  to  hide. 
Why  not  tell  the  whole  truth  ? " 

"  O  Blanche,  if  anyone  finds  me  with  you  — 
at  night  ? " 

"  Well,  what  of  it  ?  We  have  done  nothing 
wrong.  It  is  much  better  to  confess  everything  at 
once  than  to  lie  about  it,"  and  the  lovely  child  ran 
to  the  door,  drew  the  bolt  and  opened  to  the  bar- 
ber. The  latter  darted  into  the  room.  His  first 
looks  were  bent  on  Urbain,  who  was  standing  by 
the  hearth.    Touquet  only  looked  at  him  for  a 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         ii 

moment,  for  he  had  instantly  recognized  the  young 
bachelor,  and  drawing  his  sword  he  rushed  upon 
him,  crying, — 

"  Scoundrel !  You  shall  pay  with  your  life  for 
your  temerity." 

Urbain  remained  motionless,  appearing  to  brave 
Touquet's  fury,  but  seeing  the  homicidal  weapon 
flash,  Blanche  cried  out,  and,  quick  as  the  barber, 
ran  and  placed  herself  before  Urbain,  whom  she 
covered  with  her  body ;  then,  Hfting  her  hands 
towards  Touquet,  she  cried  with  an  accent  which 
came  from  her  heart,  — 

"  O  monsieur,  he  has  done  nothing  wrong." 

The  barber's  weapon  nearly  grazed  Blanche's 
bosom,  but  the  young  girl's  accents  were  so  touch- 
ing, her  sweet  features  wore  an  expression  so 
noble,  that  the  barber  himself  could  not  resist 
her.  His  anger  seemed  vanquished.  He  dropped 
his  sword,  and  said  in  a  less  gloomy  voice, — 

**  This  man  has  outraged  you,  and  you  don't 
wish  me  to  avenge  you  ?  You  ask  me  to  pardon 
him  ?    Very  well,  I  shall  not  strike." 

"  What  ?  "  said  Blanche,  surprised.  "  What, 
monsieur,  is  it  because  of  me  that  you  were  about 
to  hurt  Urbain  ?  Oh,  you  would  have  been  very 
wrong.  You  say  he  has  outraged  me;  but,  no, 
monsieur,  I  swear  to  you  he  has  not.  He  has  told 
me  that  he  loves  me  very  much,  that  he  will  love 
me  all  his  life,  but  there  is  nothing  outrageous  in 
that,  for  when  you  knocked  at  the  door  I  believe 


12  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

I  was  just  going  to  tell  him  that  I  loved  him  also. 
You  see  that  I  am  just  as  guilty  as  he  is,  and  that 
it  is  necessary  for  you  to  punish  both  of  us." 

Blanche's  words  had  an  accent  of  truth  which  it 
was  impossible  to  mistake.  The  barber  glanced  in 
astonishment  at  her  and  at  Urbain,  who  saw  that 
he  then  believed,  despite  appearances,  that  Blanche 
still  retained  her  purity.  However,  the  disorder 
which  reigned  in  the  apartment,  the  singular  cos- 
tume of  the  young  girl  and  of  Urbain,  which  was 
divided  between  that  of  the  two  sexes,  z\\  appeared 
to  confuse  Touquet's  ideas. 

"  Listen  to  us,"  said  Blanche  to  him,  "  you 
shall  know  the  whole  truth.  Urbain,  to  be  sure, 
is  a  little  to  blame,  for  he  has  come  to  see  us 
every  evening  for  nearly  a  fortnight,  but  he  came 
as  a  young  girl.  At  first  I  was  angry  with  him 
also,  but  finally  I  have  forgiven  him.  Urbain  has 
such  a  sweet  expression,  and  then,  I  already  loved 
Ursulc  very  much,  and  that  made  me  love  him 
also.  He  said  that  he  wished  to  be  my  lover,  my 
husband,  that  he  could  not  live  without  me,  and 
that  it  would  depend  upon  you  to  make  us  happy 
forever.  Ah,  you  will  be  good,  will  you  not,  my 
dear  friend  ?  You  have  already  done  much  for 
me.  Give  me  Urbain  for  my  husband,  and  I 
promise  you  that  I  will  never  ask  anything  of  you 
again." 

The  barber,  while  listening  to  Blanche,  muttered 
to  himself, — 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         13 

"  For  nearly  a  fortnight  he  has  been  coming 
here  every  evening,  it  is  by  a  great  chance  that 
I  discovered  him  today,  and  yet  I  believed  that 
I  could  easily  guard  a  young  girl  and  brave  the 
enterprises  of  lovers." 

"  Monsieur,"  said  Urbain,  who  up  to  that  mo- 
ment had  kept  silent,  "  I  confess  all  the  wrong  I 
have  done,  and  love  alone  must  be  my  excuse  ; 
but  I  adored  Blanche,  whom  I  had  seen  through 
the  panes  of  that  window,  and  you  would  not  per- 
mit any  man  to  approach  her.  I  tried  once  to  be- 
gin an  acquaintance  with  you,  but  the  manner  in 
which  you  received  me  left  me  no  hope.  I  then 
consulted  nothing  but  my  love.  Thanks  to  this 
disguise  I  deceived  old  Marguerite,  who  consented 
to  introduce  me  here.  I  saw  Blanche,  and  could  I 
renounce  the  hope  of  possessing  her  ?  She  was  de- 
ceived as  well  as  her  nurse.  Under  the  name  of 
Ursule  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  gain  her  con- 
fidence and,  by  some  interesting  stories,  to  amuse 
old  Marguerite.  I  rejoiced  in  my  happiness  with- 
out daring  to  make  myself  known.  Today,  on  ac- 
count of  the  storm,  the  rain,  which  fell  so  violently, 
the  advanced  hour,  she  invited  me  to  remain." 

"Yes,"  said  Blanche,  with  an  angelic  smile, 
"  He  was  going  to  sleep  with  me.  I  myself  begged 
him  to  do  so." 

The  barber  knit  his  brows  and  glanced  angrily 
at  the  young  man.  Urbain  instantly  threw  him- 
self at  his  feet,  crying,  — 


14  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"I  have  respected  her  virtue,  her  innocence. 

0  monsieur,  can  I  not  touch  you  with  my  love. 
Yes,  I  adore  Blanche,  give  me  her  hand  or  de- 
prive me  of  a  life  which  without  her  would  be  in- 
supportable." 

"  Hear  us,  my  friend,"  said  Blanche.  "He  will 
absolutely  die  if  I  am  not  his  wife,  and  if  he  should 
die  I  feel  that  I  should  die  of  grief,  too." 

The  barber  appeared  to  listen  to  Urbain  with- 
out being  in  the  least  moved  by  his  prayers,  when 
the  young  bachelor  added, — 

**  I  know,  monsieur,  all  that  you  have  done  for 
Blanche.  Her  father  was  assassinated,  she  remained 
an  orphan  without  any  support.  She  owes  every- 
thing to  you." 

"  What  ^  "  said  Touquet,  who  had  paid  more 
attention  to  Urbain's  last  words,  "you  know  —  " 

"  Yes,  monsieur,  I  learned  all  that  concerns  her 
whom  I  adore.  She  did  not  know  her  parents 
and  possessed  no  fortune,  but  it  is  she  alone  whom 

1  ask  of  you.  You  have  done  well  for  her.  Give 
me  Blanche ;  she  is  sufficient  for  my  happiness. 
I  also  am  an  orphan ;  my  family  was  honest  and 
respectable,  but  I  have  no  relations  left.  My 
name  is  Urbain  Dorgeville ;  I  have  an  income  of 
twelve  hundred  livres;  that  is  very  little,  but  I 
possess  besides  a  little  house  in  the  country,  on 
the  borders  of  the  Loire,  there  I  shall  go  to  live 
with  Blanche.  Far  from  the  tumult  of  the  city, 
which  we  shall  not  regret,  nor  its  pleasures ;  and 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        15 

far  from  society,  which  we  do  not  wish  to  know, 
we  shall  there  pass  our  days  in  peace  and  love 
and  happiness." 

The  barber  appeared  to  reflect  deeply.  He 
rose,  and  strolled  about  the  room  with  bowed 
head.  Hope  and  fear  were  depicted  in  the  looks 
of  the  two  lovers,  who  waited  with  impatience  his 
answer.  Finally,  he  paused,  and  said  to  Urbain, — 

"  You  are  an  orphan  ?  Entirely  master  of  your 
own  actions  ?  " 

"Yes,  monsieur." 

"  There  is  nobody  to  object  to  your  marrying 
an  orphan  without  means,  and  whose  family  is  un- 
known ?  " 

"  Nobody,  I  repeat  to  you,  can  oppose  my 
wishes." 

"  You  will  never  seek,  yourself,  to  obtain  any 
information  in  regard  to  Blanche's  family,  which, 
besides,  would  prove  entirely  fruitless." 

"  Why,  what  does  it  matter  to  me  who  were 
her  parents.    She  is  a  treasure  in  herself." 

"And  you  will  go  to  live  with  her  far  from 
Paris  —  far  from  everyone?  " 

"Yes,  for  I  shall  make  it  my  care  to  be  all- 
sufficient  to  her  happiness." 

"  O  heavens,  Urbain,"  said  Blanche,  "  You 
know  very  well  that  I  never  left  this  room,  where 
I  saw  no  one  but  Marguerite.  If  I  were  to  live 
with  you  in  the  country  do  you  suppose  that  I 
should  wish  for  anything  else  ?  " 


i6  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Dear  Blanche,  unite  with  me  then  in  obtaining 
the  consent  of  your  protector." 

The  two  young  people  bent  on  the  barber  en- 
treating looks.  The  latter  did  not  notice  them  and 
appeared  entirely  wrapped  in  his  reflections ;  at 
last,  all  of  a  sudden,  he  stopped  before  Urbain,  and 
said,  in  a  curt  tone, — 

"  Blanche  is  yours." 

"  Can  it  be  ? "  cried  the  young  bachelor,  in  a 
delirium  of  happiness.  "  Blanche,  do  you  hear  ? 
He  consents  to  our  union." 

"  Oh,  my  dear  friend,  how  much  I  thank  you.** 

And  the  two  lovers  fell  on  their  knees  before 
Touquet,  their  eyes  bathed  with  tears  of  pleasure 
and  gratitude. 

"  What  are  you  doing  ?  '*  said  the  barber,  who 
seemed  ashamed  to  see  the  young  couple  at  his 
feet.    "  Get  up,  I  beg  of  you." 

**You  have  made  us  happy,"  said  Urbain, 
*'  and  you  will  not  even  receive  our  thanks." 

"  No,  no,  I  wish  for  nothing  but  silence  and 
discretion." 

"  Aren*t  you  glad  now  that  you  didn't  injure 
Urbain  ?  He  meant  no  harm  in  disguising  him- 
self as  a  girl.  It  was  he  who  sang  so  beautifully 
under  my  window.  Oh,  how  happy  I  am !  He 
can  sing  with  me  all  the  time  now.  He  will  teach 
me  that  pretty  ballad  and  some  others,  too. 
Will  you  not,  Urbain,  teach  me  many  things? 
Oh,  how  happy  we  shall  be." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       17 

The  barber  had  some  trouble  in  calming  Ur- 
bain's  transports  and  Blanche's  naive  joy.  Finally 
he  succeeded  in  making  them  listen. 

"  Until  the  time  of  your  union,"  said  he,  "  I 
repeat  to  you,  I  shall  exact  the  greatest  discretion. 
Urbain  you  must  promise  me  not  to  speak  of  your 
marriage,  and  not  to  bring  any  of  your  acquaint- 
ances here." 

"I  swear  to  you,  monsieur,  that  I  will  do  as 
you  wish ;  besides,  I  don't  know  anybody.  I  have 
no  intimate  friends." 

"  That  is  better  still,  you  will  have  less  to  re- 
gret in  leaving  the  city.  Make  all  your  prepara- 
tions for  departure,  and  procure  all  the  necessary 
documents  for  your  marriage.  As  to  Blanche,  I 
will  give  you  the  letter  found  on  her  father ;  that 
is  all  which  concerns  that  matter.  When  you  have 
made  all  the  necessary  arrangements,  you  can 
marry  Blanche  —  but  in  the  evening  without  any 
stir,  with  nothing  that  can  draw  people  to  the 
church  to  see  the  ceremony ;  I  dislike  idlers  and 
curious  people.  Afterwards  you  will  immediately 
start  for  the  country ;  and  you  will  not  return  to 
this  city,  where  your  modest  means  would  not  per- 
mit you  to  live  happily." 

"  Yes,  I  agree  to  all,  monsieur." 

"  Arc  you  coming  with  us,  my  friend  ? " 

"  No,  that  is  not  necessary.   Later  on,  perhaps." 

"  And  Marguerite,  can  we  take  her  with  us  ? " 

«  Yes." 

V01.V111  ., 


x8  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  How  nice  that  will  be  !  " 

"  Up  to  the  day  of  your  departure  Urbain  can 
come  here,  but  in  the  evening  only,  and  not  in 
disguise." 

"He  will  come  as  a  boy.  I  am  very  curious  to 
see  him  like  that." 

"  You  understand  ;  it  is"  very  late.  It  is  neces- 
sary for  you  to  retire.  Urbain,  I  repeat  to  you, 
maintain  the  greatest  silence  about  all  this.  Has- 
ten your  preparations,  and  Blanche  will  soon  be 
yours." 

Urbain  renewed  his  promises  and  his  thanks  to 
the  barber,  and  took  Blanche's  hand  and  covered 
it  with  kisses.  The  young  people  could  hardly 
believe  in  their  happiness,  and  the  future  that  was 
opening  before  them  still  seemed  a  dream  of  their 
imagination,  but  Touquet  hurried  them. 

"  I  shall  see  you  tomorrow,"  said  Urbain. 

"  Tomorrow,"  repeated  Blanche,  "  and  not  in 
woman's  clothes.  Do  you  hear  ?  I  wish  to  grow 
accustomed  to  seeing  you  as  a  man." 

"  Yes,  dear  Blanche,  yes.  No  more  pretence 
now." 

The  barber  cut  their  adieux  short  and  led  away 
the  young  man,  and  Blanche  closed  her  door,  sigh- 
ing and  murmuring  still,  — 

"  Tomorrow." 

Touquet  guided  Urbain,  holding  the  lamp  in 
his  hand,  and  walking  rapidly  towards  the  stair- 
case ;  but  hardly  had  he  taken  ten  steps  in  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        19 

passage  when  his  foot  caught  in  something.  He 
lowered  his  lamp  and  perceived  a  little  shapeless 
heap  which  moved  and  appeared  to  want  to  glide 
along  the  wall.  The  barber  ran  at  this  object  and, 
quickly  lifting  the  mantle  which  covered  it,  per- 
ceived Chaudoreille,  with  his  body  on  all  fours  in 
such  a  way  as  not  to  take  more  room  than  a  big  cat. 

"What  are  you  doing  there,  clown?  "cried  Tou- 
quet,  putting  his  lamp  against  Chaudoreille's  face. 

"  Me  ?  Nothing.    I  am  picking  up  a  pin." 

"  Go  down  to  the  room.  I  have  told  you  be- 
fore that  I  don't  like  curious  people,"  and  to 
prove  this  to  him  beyond  a  possibility  of  doubt 
the  barber  kicked  the  chevalier  vigorously,  and 
the  latter,  not  having  had  time  to  straighten  him- 
self, received  the  kick  in  three  parts  of  his  body. 
Touquet  did  not  stop  to  do  more,  but  led  the 
bachelor  to  the  street  door,  and  opening  it  for 
him  said, — 

"  Go,  and  remember  all  that  you  have  prom- 
ised." : 

Urbain  was  about  to  renew  his  protestations  of 
gratitude,  but  the  barber  put  an  end  to  them  by 
telling  him  to  go  immediately  to  his  dwelling, 
and  closing  the  door  upon  him. 

Touquet  returned  into  the  lower  room  where 
he  found  Chaudoreille,  who  had  resumed  his  nat- 
ural size  and  was  promenading  with  the  air  of  a 
conqueror,  evidently  awaiting  the  thanks  of  the 
barber. 


ao  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Well,  now,  by  jingo  !  "  cried  he  impatiently, 
seeing  that  the  latter  said  nothing  to  him.  "  You 
have  found  the  magpie  in  the  nest.  I  haven't 
dim  sight.  And  that  slap  in  the  face,  zounds  I  I 
recognized  a  masculine  hand.  I  am  never  de- 
ceived. Well,  we  have,  according  to  what  I  see, 
shown  the  gallant  to  the  door.  As  to  the  little 
one,  hang  it !  With  her  sanctimonious  air,  who 
would  have  expected  it  ? " 

"  Be  silent  1  "  cried  the  barber,  advancing  to- 
wards Chaudoreille  with  a  threatening  gesture. 
"  Do  not  outrage  Blanche.  That  the  young  girl 
is  still  pure  is  as  true  as  that  you  are  a  liar  and  a 
coward." 

"A  coward  !  By  jingo,  if  Rolande  could  only 
speak. ! " 

"Yes,  I  confess  that  I  found  someone  there, 
but  that  someone  was  not  alone  with  Blanche." 

"  That  is  singular.  I  didn't  hear  old  Marguer- 
ite's voice." 

"  You  were  listening,  then,  wretch." 

"  No,  it  was  by  chance  that  some  sounds  reached 
my  ears;  some  one  called  out.  I  thought  that 
somebody  had  need  of  help  and,  following  my 
natural  ardor,  I  went  towards  the  neighborhood 
from  whence  the  noise  came." 

"  Well,  what  did  you  hear  ?  Speak,  I  tell  you ! " 

"  Oh,  nothing,  some  words.  It  seemed  to  me 
that  you  were  promising  to  unite  the  two  lovers. 
At  least  I  believe  that's  what  I  caught.    However, 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        21 

if  I  had  not  thought  that  you  were  keeping  the 
little  one  for  yourself  I  would  have  demanded 
her  hand  of  you  long  ago.  It  seems  to  me  that  I 
deserve  the  preference  over  that  little  masker, 
who  if  it  had  not  been  for  his  petticoat  would  have 
paid  dearly  for  the  slap  on  the  face  he  gave  me." 

"You  become  Blanche's  husband!"  said  the 
barber,  glancing  scornfully  at  the  little  man. 
"  Listen,  Chaudoreille,  it  suits  me  to  give  Blanche 
to  this  young  man ;  he  will  make  her  happy," 

"As  to  that  you  are  the  master,  but  —  " 

**  But,  if  you  say  a  word  about,  what  you  have 
seen  and  heard  tonight  I  shall  draw  down  upon 
you  the  most  terrible  vengeance.  Do  you  under- 
stand me  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  understand  you.  By  jingo,  marry  the 
little  one  with  whom  you  please.  I  don't  care  a 
fig  for  the  pair  of  them.  However,  if  there  is 
to  be  a  wedding,  I  hope  —  " 

"No,  there  will  be  neither  a  wedding  nor  a 
repast  —  " 

"That  will  be  gay!" 

"  But,  if  you  are  discreet,  I  promise  you  two 
pieces  of  gold  when  everything  is  finished  and 
Blanche  has  left  this  house.** 

"  Agreed.  That  will  suit  me,  it  is  as  if  I  held 
them  now ;  you  might  as  well  pay  me  in  advance.** 

"  I  prefer,  however,  not  to  pay  you  until  after- 
wards. But  the  night  is  drawing  to  a  close ;  go 
home,  Chaudoreille,  and  remember  your  promise.'* 


22  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Yes,  yes,  that's  settled.  Is  there  any  news  of 
the  seductive  marquis  and  the  young  Italian  ?" 

"  I  believe  that  fire  is  already  extinguished. 
But  that  doesn't  astonish  me ;  a  fortnight,  three 
weeks,  is  the  measure  of  the  constancy  of  our 
great  noblemen." 

"And  after  that's  ended  it's  probable  that  there 
will  be  one  intrigue  after  another  to  conduct.  If 
so  remember  me,  my  dear  Touquet." 

"  Very  good,  go  to  your  bed  !  " 

"In  fact,  it's  about  time.  I'll  go  back  to  the 
Rue  Brise-Miche ;  fortunately  my  portress  has 
a  liking  for  me,  or  else  I  should  run  a  great  risk 
of  sleeping  in  the  street.  However,  if  you  wish, 
I  could  wait  for  day  here,  on  a  chair." 

"  No,  no,  it's  necessary  for  you  to  go  ;  I  need 
some  rest,  also,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  I  shall  get 
little  of  it  this  night." 

Chaudoreille  enveloped  himself  as  well  as  he 
could  in  his  mantle  and  went  towards  the  door, 
making  a  grimace.  The  barber  closed  it  on  him 
and  went  to  his  room,  saying,  — 

"  I  have  done  well ;  she  will  go  away,  no  one 
will  hear  tell  of  her  again,  and  everything  regard- 
ing her  will  soon  be  forgotten." 


CHAPTER   II 

Happy  Moments 

Marguerite  alone  had  slept  during  the  night 
which  had  wrought  so  great  a  change  in  the  bar- 
ber's household ;  greatly  cheered  and  calmed  by 
the  possession  of  Ursule's  talisman  she  slept  more 
soundly  than  she  had  e\  er  done  in  her  new  room. 
As  for  Blanche  one  may  well  suppose  that  she 
did  not  close  her  eyes  for  a  moment.  The  ami- 
able child,  still  bewildered  by  all  the  events  which 
had  taken  place,  had  hardly  had  time  to  pass  from 
the  fear  of  love  to  the  fear  of  happiness ;  she  was 
too  innocent,  too  childlike  to  have  dreamed  of 
love  as  yet,  her  poor  heart  hardly  yet  realized  its 
own  state,  though  one  sentiment  stronger  than  all 
others  dominated  its  thoughts.  She  tossed  con- 
tinually on  her  couch,  repeating  to  herself, — 

"  He's  a  boy,  and  it  was  he  who  sang  so  beauti- 
fully. Mercy,  who  could  have  expected  it?  He 
was  so  pleasing  as  a  girl ;  however,  I  believe  he 
will  be  still  better  as  a  boy.  Oh,  I  wish  it  was 
evening  now.  He  said  that  he  loved  me  —  how 
strange  that  is  —  do  I  also  love  him  ?  I  believe 
I  do.  However,  I  must  ask  Marguerite  what  love 
is,  she  ought  to  know  that.     Poor  Marguerite, 


24  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

how  surprised  she*ll  be  when  she  learns  that  he 
was  not  a  girl.    Oh,  I  wish  it  was  day  now." 

The  day  so  much  desired  appeared  at  length. 
Blanche  had  been  up  for  a  long  time ;  impatient 
at  not  hearing  the  old  nurse  come  down,  she  could 
not  resist  going  up  to  Marguerite's  room.  She 
knocked  at  the  door,  exclaiming, — 

"  Wake  up,  dear  nurse  !  it's  very  late.  I  have 
a  thousand  things  to  tell  you.  Get  up,  I  beg  of 
you — you  have  slept  long  enough." 

Marguerite,  who  never  had  to  be  awakened, 
because  she  always  rose  sufficiently  early,  rubbed 
her  eyes,  believing  that  the  house  was  on  fire, 
sought  to  recall  her  ideas,  to  recover  the  talisman 
which  had  been  entrusted  to  her  and  which  had 
been  lost  among  the  bedclothes,  while  invoking 
her  patron  saint,  and  muttering,  — 

"Where  has  it  gone  to?  I've  looked  for  it 
—  has  the  devil  taken  it  away  from  me  during  the 
night?  Wait  now  —  ah,  I  shan't  find  it  again.  I 
thought  I  felt  something.  It  must  have  been  the 
devil  who  took  it  maliciously  !  " 

Finally  Marguerite  found  the  little  scrap  of 
Urbain's  breeches,  and  recalling  all  that  had  taken 
place  on  the  evening  before,  she  hastened  to  open 
the  door  to  Blanche,  and  said, — 

"  Has  Ursule  gone  ?  It's  necessary  to  hasten 
her  away,  my  child." 

"  Oh,  yes,  she's  gone  ;  that  is  to  say,  he's  gone. 
But  don't  be  afraid,  my  good  friend  is  willing  that 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        25 

he  should  come  —  he  wishes  him  to  marry  mc ; 
he's  no  longer  angry.  He's  coming  here  this  even- 
ing as  a  boy ;  you  will  see  how  nice  he  is ;  and 
when  we  are  married,  we  shall  go  into  the  country 
and  you  shall  come  with  us.  Oh,  how  happy  I 
shall  be  !  Come,  Marguerite,  laugh  too  ;  you  see 
it's  no  longer  necessary  to  have  any  fear." 

Marguerite  had  no  desire  to  laugh,  she  would 
rather  have  wept,  for  she  understood  nothing  that 
Blanche  was  saying ;  she  opened  her  eyes  as  widely 
as  possible  and  exclaimed,  — 

**  O  good  God,  my  dear  child,  is  your  head 
turned  this  morning  ?  Can  that  Ursule  be  a  sor- 
cerer ?    Don't  jump  like  that,  I  beg  of  you." 

Blanche  recommenced  her  narrative  and  at  last 
made  Marguerite  understand  that  Ursule  was  a 
boy.    The  old  woman  cried,  affrightedly, — 

"  My  God  1  a  boy,  and  he  slept  with  you  ? " 

"  Oh,  no,  dear  nurse,  because  Monsieur  Tou- 
quet  came  in  just  at  the  moment  when  —  mercy! 
I  don't  know  what  we  were  doing  at  that  mo- 
ment—  oh,  yes,  I  believe  he  was  kissing  me." 

"  Holy  Virgin !  it  was  a  goblin  disguised  as  a 
girl." 

"  No,  dear  nurse,  he's  called  Urbain,  he's  an 
orphan  like  me ;  but  his  family  was  very  respec- 
table, and  he's  going  to  marry  me." 

"  To  marry  you  ?  " 

"Yes,  certainly.  You  won't  oppose  it  when 
my  protector  has  given  his  consent,  will  you  ?  " 


26  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  What,  M.  Touquet  has  consented  to  it  ? " 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  tell  you.  It's  finished.  Every- 
thing is  arranged." 

The  good  old  woman  hardly  believed  that  her 
ears  did  not  deceive  her,  but  the  arrival  of  her 
master  put  an  end  to  her  doubts. 

The  barber  looked  very  stern  as  he  approached 
Marguerite,  and  the  old  woman  trembled,  for  she 
felt  that  she  was  in  fault. 

"  Marguerite,"  he  said,  "  I  could  punish  you 
for  having  betrayed  my  confidence,  for  having, 
despite  my  orders,  introduced  someone  into  the 
house.  You  will  tell  me,  like  Blanche,  that  you 
have  been  deceived  —  and  I  would  wish  to  think 
so,  besides,  as  I  have  forgiven  it,  it  is  needless  to 
dwell  on  what  is  past.  The  young  man  will  be 
Blanche's  husband ;  he  will  make  her  happy.  You 
will  go  with  them  when  they  leave  this  house.  I 
have  but  one  command  to  lay  upon  you,  and  that 
is  to  keep  this  incident  from  all  your  gossips  in 
this  neighborhood.  If  you  commit  the  least  indis- 
cretion, I'll  send  you  away  and  you  will  prevent 
this  marriage  from  taking  place." 

"  Oh,  dear  nurse,  don't  say  anything  about  it," 
cried  Blanche. 

"  No,  mademoiselle  ;  no,  monsieur,"  responded 
Marguerite,  still  trembling,  "  I  swear  to  you 
that  —  " 

"  That's  enough,"  said  the  barber.  "  You  love 
Blanche,  and  her  happiness  depends  upon  your 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        27 

discretion.  Urbain  will  come  in  the  evenings  only, 
until  the  day  he  takes  away  his  bride.** 

The  barber  departed  after  thus  speaking,  leav- 
ing Marguerite  still  dumbfounded  by  all  that  she 
had  heard. 

"  How  is  this  ?  '*  said  she,  following  Blanche  to 
her  room ;  "  M.  Touquet  consented  to  this  at 
once  I* 

"  Yes,  dear  nurse.'* 

"  I*m  not  to  be  sent  away/* 

"  That  surprises  me,  also ;  I  was  so  afraid  he 
would  refuse  Urbain." 

"  Urbain  —  Urbain  —  but  you  don't  know  him, 
my  child !  *• 

"  Why,  yes,  I  do,  dear  nurse,  since  he  is  Ur- 
sule.** 

**  I  understand  that  very  well ;  but  Ursule  has 
deceived  us.** 

"It  was  that  he  might  see  me  that  Urbain  dis- 
guised himself;  it  was  love  that  made  him  do  it, 
dear  nurse." 

"  Love,  indeed  !  but  you  cannot  yet  love  him, 
my  child." 

"  Oh,  dear  nurse,  I  believe  I  shall  love  him  very 
quickly.  Urbain  was  teaching  me  how  to  love 
yesterday,  when  my  protector  knocked  at  the 
door." 

"  Jesu,  Maria !  What,  my  child,  in  place  of 
calling  for  help  when  you  saw  it  was  a  man  ?  '* 

"I  desired  to  do  so  at  first,  but  if  you  only 


28  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

knew !  Urbain  was  not  at  all  alarming,  on  the 
contrary ;  and  then  he  threw  himself  at  my  feet 
and  begged  my  pardon  with  such  a  sweet  air, 
with  eyes  so  —  O  Marguerite,  what  should  I  have 
forgiven  him  for." 

"  Good  heavens  !  And  your  talisman,  my  girl, 
did  you  not  have  recourse  to  that  ? " 

"  Oh,  forgive  me,  dear  nurse,  I  even  showed  it 
several  times  to  Urbain.** 

"  And  it  didn*t  cause  him  to  fly  ?  ** 

**On  the  contrary,  dear  nurse,  he  drew  still 
nearer.'* 

"  Come,  decidedly  everything  is  upside  down. 
It  must  be  that  boy  is  a  magician  to  work  such 
changes  in  this  house.  I  shall  no  longer  have  any 
faith  in  his  little  relic.** 

Blanche  and  the  old  woman  awaited  the  even- 
ing with  impatience ;  Marguerite  curious  to  know 
the  young  man  who  had  wrought  such  prodigies 
in  her  master's  house,  and  the  young  girl  ardently 
desiring  to  see  again  him  who  had  caused  her  to 
sigh  and  to  experience  an  entirely  new  feeling. 
But  Blanche's  desires  were  mingled  with  that 
timidity,  that  bashfiilness,  which  accompany  a  first 
love.  As  the  hour  of  Urbain's  arrival  approached 
she  felt  more  restless  and  dreamy,  and  already 
this  unknown  sentiment  inspired  her  with  a  secret 
desire  to  please ;  she  rose,  looked  at  herself  in  the 
mirror,  and  arranged  a  lock  of  hair,  then  she  said 
to  Marguerite, — 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        29 

"Dear  nurse,  do  I  look  all  right?  Do  you 
think  he  will  love  me  as  much  tonight  as  he  did 
yesterday  ?  " 

"  Dear  child,"  cried  the  old  servant,  "  if  he  is 
capable  of  changing  would  he  be  worthy  of  you  ? 
When  one  loves  truly,  my  dear,  *tis  for  life." 

"  Oh,  that  is  much  better,  dear  nurse ;  I  should 
like  to  love  like  that.  You  will  see  that  there's 
nothing  about  Urbain  to  frighten  one,  and  I  am 
sure  I  shall  love  him  also." 

The  young  bachelor  desired  with  no  less  impa- 
tience than  Blanche  the  moment  when  he  could 
return  to  the  barber's  house.  Since  the  evening 
before  Urbain  had  entirely  lost  his  head,  and  his 
happiness  had  been  so  sudden,  so  unforeseen,  that 
it  had  completely  unbalanced  him  for  the  time. 
He  had  returned  to  his  lodging  in  the  night, 
dancing,  singing  and  running  in  the  street.  In  his 
intoxication  he  had  lost  his  skirt  and  his  kerchief; 
but  he  had  no  further  need  of  his  disguise,  and 
without  troubling  himself  to  pick  up  those  por- 
tions of  his  costume  he  had  arrived  at  home 
partly  undressed,  but  so  happy  that  he  would  not 
have  changed  his  lot  for  the  fortune,  the  favor  or 
the  power  of  the  cardinal ;  and  in  that  he  was 
right,  the  joys  which  love  brings  are  not,  as  is 
the  case  with  grandeur  and  power,  mingled  with 
anxieties  and  cares. 

The  next  day  Urbain  would  have  liked  to  tell 
his  happiness  to  all  the  world,  but  he  remembered 


30  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

that  one  of  the  first  conditions  of  his  marriage 
with  Blanche  was  that  he  should  keep  the  matter 
entirely  secret;  he  contented  himself,  therefore, 
with  looking  at  everybody  who  passed  with  an 
air  of  satisfaction  and  triumph  which  indicated  a 
mind  impervious  to  the  strokes  of  fortune. 

In  the  evening  his  neighbor  came,  as  usfual,  to 
propose  to  help  him  in  disguising  himself;  but 
Urbain  thanked  her ;  he  had  no  further  need  of 
her  services  and  the  good-natured  girl  seemed 
vexed  that  the  masqueradings  were  ended. 

Urbain  wished  to  please  as  a  man  still  more 
than  he  had  wished  to  do  so  as  a  country  woman ; 
he  put  on  his  collar  and  his  hat  with  more  care 
than  he  ordinarily  took.  He  looked  to  see  that 
his  hair  did  not  fall  in  disorder  over  his  forehead, 
and  sighed  as  he  said,  — 

"If  I  should  not  succeed  in  pleasing  her!" 
However,  the  remembrance  of  the  evening  before 
gave  him  courage,  and  he  took  his  way  to  the 
barber's  house.  He  trembled  as  he  knocked  at 
the  door,  although  the  fear  of  being  sent  away 
did  not  present  itself  to  his  mind.  The  sound  of 
the  knocker  went  to  Blanche's  heart,  and  she 
jumped  from  her  chair,  exclaiming,  — 

"  It's  he  ! "  and  was  about  to  run  to  the  street 
door  when  Marguerite  stopped  her,  saying,  — 

"  How  now,  my  child,  what  are  you  going  to 
do^  It  would  not  be  decent  for  you  to  go  and 
open  the  door  for  this  young  man." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        31 

"  Do  you  think  so,  nurse.  Very  well ;  go  then. 
Marguerite ;  go  quickly." 

Marguerite  hurried  as  fast  as  she  could,  she 
was  anxious  to  see  the  young  man.  She  opened 
the  door  to  Urbain  and  looked  at  him  atten- 
tively ;  his  gentle  and  diffident  appearance  made 
a  favorable  impression  on  the  old  woman. 

"  It's  singular —  he  appears  to  be  more  embar- 
rassed as  a  boy  than  as  a  girl.  Come  in,  come  in, 
my  handsome  young  spark ;  come  in.  Now  we 
shall  see  if  you've  any  more  stories  to  relate  of 
the  adventures  of  your  aunts  and  cousins." 

"  Yes,  my  good  Marguerite,"  said  Urbain,  "  I 
shall  continue  to  tell  them  to  you  if  they  give 
you  pleasure." 

"  He  wishes  to  please  me,"  said  Marguerite  to 
herself.  "  Yes,  Blanche  was  right,  the  young  man 
is  very  charming," 

The  embarrassment  of  these  two  young  lovers 
was  a  very  singular  thing,  inasmuch  as  they  had 
in  their  first  interview  spoken  so  freely  of  their 
love,  and  were  already  engaged  and  certain  of  be- 
ing married.  Blanche,  who  had  at  first  wished  to 
run  to  the  door,  now  dared  not  raise  her  eyes, 
and,  on  hearing  Urbain's  step,  remained  motion- 
less on  her  chair.  The  latter,  on  entering  this 
room  where  he  had  been  every  evening  for  a  fort- 
night, experienced  an  uneasiness,  a  new  embarrass- 
ment, and  paused  near  the  door,  holding  his  hat 
in  his  hand,  and  glancing  timidly  at  Blanche. 


32  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"Well,"  said  Marguerite,  "here's  one  who 
dares  go  no  farther  at  present.  Come,  master  boy, 
when  you  were  a  girl  you  didn't  thus  remain 
standing  motionless  and  mute  at  the  door ;  and 
my  poor  Blanche,  who  is  afraid  to  raise  her  eyes 
and  is  trembling  like  a  leaf.  My  darling,  it  isn't 
necessary  to  blush  like  that  when  one  has  done 
nothing  wrong.  You  see,  I  am  obliged  to  encour- 
age you." 

However,  Urbain  gently  approached  Blanche, 
bent  his  knees  to  the  floor  and  murmured,  — 

"  If  you  no  longer  feel  friendly  to  me,  if  this 
costume  has  made  you  lose  confidence  in  me  — 
I  will  resume  that  of  Ursule." 

The  sweet  girl  timidly  raised  her  head,  and 
bending  on  Urbain  a  look  of  the  tenderest  love, 
she  said,  blushing  deeper  than  before,  — 

"  Oh,  it  isn't  that.  Excuse  me,  I  don't  know 
what  is  the  matter  with  me." 

She  turned  her  head  to  hide  her  face  in  Mar- 
guerite's bosom,  and  said  in  a  low  tone  to  the 
latter,  — 

"  Dear  nurse,  is  it  love  that  makes  me  feel  so 
thy?" 

"I  remember  scarcely  anything  about  love 
now,"  answered  the  old  woman,  shaking  her  head; 
"however,  yes,  I  believe  in  my  young  days  it 
did  evince  itself  somewhat  in  that  fashion." 

Blanche  turned  to  Urbain  and  said  to  him, 
with  a  charming  smile,  — 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        3^ 

"  Don't  be  angry  with  me ;  if  I  am  awkward 
and  embarrassed  it  is  because  I  love  you." 

Delighted  at  the  candor  of  the  young  girl,  Ur- 
bain  took  her  hand  and  pressed  it  against  his 
heart,  then,  seating  himself  near  her,  he  renewed 
the  vows  with  which  love  for  her  inspired  him. 
Confidence  was  soon  reestablished  between  them  ; 
when  two  hearts  beat  in  accord,  constraint  is  soon 
banished.  Blanche  resumed  her  gayety,  her  in- 
genuousness, and  allowed  her  lover  to  read  all 
her  feelings,  and  the  latter  perceived  that  he  had 
a  treasure  of  innocence  and  kindness. 

Marguerite  joined  in  the  conversation  of  the 
young  people ;  Urbain,  by  his  amiability  and  the 
deference  he  showed  for  the  old  servant's  advice, 
entirely  won  her  friendship.  The  young  bachelor 
praised  the  situation  of  his  little  property,  which 
in  the  midst  of  a  charming  country  offered  de- 
lightful walks  and  all  the  pleasures  of  a  rural  ex- 
istence. He  promised  the  old  woman  to  give  her 
a  room  impervious  to  every  enchantment,  and  to 
tell  her  in  the  long  winter  evenings  some  of  the 
gruesome  stories  which  gave  her  both  fear  and 
pleasure. 

While  chatting  with  Marguerite,  the  tender 
glances,  pressings  of  the  hand  and  sweet  smiles  of 
the  two  lovers  established  between  them  that 
sympathy  of  mind  which  gives  the  first,  and  per- 
haps the  sweetest,  taste  of  love. 

The  time  passed  rapidly,  nine  o'clock  struck, 

voLvni 


34  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

the  hour  which  the  barber  had  fixed  for  Urbain's 
departure,  and  they  knew  they  must  obey  his  com- 
mands if  they  wished  him  to  keep  his  promises. 

"  Must  I  leave  you  already  ?  "  said  Urbain. 

"I'm  sorry  you  must  go,"  answered  Blanche, 
sighing  tenderly. 

"  You  will  see  each  other  again  tomorrow,  my 
children,"  said  Marguerite,  "and  the  day  will  soon 
come  when  you  will  no  longer  have  to  part.  Mon- 
sieur Dorgeville,  have  you  begun  the  necessary 
preparations  for  your  marriage  ?  " 

"  Mon  Dieu!"  said  Urbain,  "I  was  so  unsettled 
today  that  I  could  think  of  nothing  but  the  hap- 
piness that  I  should  enjoy  this  evening;  and  I 
have  done  nothing  yet." 

"  If  you  are  as  heedless  every  day,  your  marriage 
will  never  take  place,"  said  Marguerite. 

"  Oh,  tomorrow  I  will  begin  to  put  matters  in 
train.  I  am  anxious  for  the  time  when  I  shan't 
have  to  leave  Blanche  ;  but  I  haven't  seen  Mon- 
sieur Touquet  this  evening.  Ought  I  not  to  go 
and  say  good  evening  to  him  ?  " 

"No,  it  is  needless;  my  master  is  unlike  other 
men ;  he  has  no  use  for  ceremony.  He  said  to  me, 
very  positively,  *  The  young  man  will  come  at 
seven  o'clock ;  you  will  conduct  him  to  Blanche's 
room,  where  you  will  remain  with  them,  and  at 
nine  o'clock  he  will  go.  When  I  wish  to  speak 
with  him  I  will  seek  him,  but  it  is  needless  for 
him  to  endeavor  to  see  me.'  " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        35 

"  What  a  singular  man  !  "  said  Urbain ;  "  but  I 
ought  to  bless  him,  for  he  has  made  me  happy, 
and  I  accused  him.  I  had  a  suspicion  that  he 
wished  to  guard  this  treasure  for  himself  by  hid- 
ing her  from  everyone." 

"  For  himself,"  cried  Blanche,  "  how  could  that 
be  possible  ?  " 

"  Forgive  me,  dear  Blanche,  love  makes  one 
jealous ;  I  see  well  that  I  was  unjust." 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  Marguerite,  "but  hasten  to 
get  your  documents  drawn  and  marry  this  dear 
child." 

The  bachelor  left  at  last,  but  Blanche's  looks 
followed  him  and  he  could  not  doubt  his  happi- 
ness ;  he  possessed  the  heart  of  an  amiable  girl 
who  did  not  seek  to  hide  from  him  the  sentiments 
with  which  he  inspired  her.  The  next  day  Urbain 
took  the  preliminary  steps  to  hasten  his  marriage ; 
he  had  also  to  sell  the  little  furniture  he  possessed, 
for  it  was  very  necessary  to  obtain  some  money 
for  the  journey ;  and,  in  regard  to  that,  the  bache- 
lor soon  saw  that  Monsieur  Touquet  evinced  no 
generosity  of  disposition.  But  a  lover  who  is 
about  to  marry  his  sweetheart  always  believes 
himself  rich  enough,  and,  besides,  Blanche  having 
been  reared  in  retirement  had  no  extravagant  de- 
sires in  regard  to  household  expenses,  dress  or 
ornaments ;  she  would  be  economical  and  simple 
in  her  tastes,  which  qualities  are  often  of  more 
value  than  the  bride's  dowry. 


S6  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Evening  again  brought  Urbain  to  his  sweet- 
heart; on  this  occasion  the  embarrassment  had 
disappeared,  and  they  gave  themselves  up  entirely 
to  the  pleasure  they  experienced  in  seeing  each 
other  again.  The  time  they  passed  together  rolled 
on  as  rapidly  as  before,  but  they  consoled  them- 
selves by  remembering  that  the  day  would  soon 
come  when  they  would  be  united  forever.  On  the 
fourth  evening  that  Urbain  passed  with  Blanche 
the  door  opened,  and  the  barber  made  his  ap- 
pearance. 

He  slightly  inclined  his  head  to  Urbain  and 
said  to  him,  in  his  ordinary  brief  tone,  — 

"  Are  you  making  preparations  for  your  mar- 
riage ?  " 

"  Yes,  monsieur,"  said  Urbain,  rising  and  going 
up  to  Touquet,  "  but  you  know  employers  never 
share  one's  impatience.  However,  within  six  days, 
or  a  little  later,  I  should  have  all  my  papers.  I 
have  seen  the  priest  who  is  to  unite  us  and  have 
made  all  my  preparations  for  departure." 

«  That's  well." 

The  barber  made  no  further  remark  and  left 
the  young  people,  who  were  for  a  moment  aston- 
ished at  his  conduct ;  but  after  all  they  were  not 
sorry  to  be  able  to  give  themselves  up  to  the 
pleasure  of  lovers*  conversation  with  no  other  wit- 
nesses than  old  Marguerite,  who  sometimes  went 
to  giecp  while  Urbain  and  Blanche  were  silently 
pressing  each  other's  hands.    The  time  passes 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        37 

quickly  when  one  is  happy,  and  if  the  days  were 
long  for  the  two  lovers,  by  way  of  revenge  each 
evening  seemed  shorter  than  the  last.  The  more 
they  saw  of  each  other  the  closer  love  drew  his 
meshes  about  their  hearts,  which  seemed  formed 
for  adoration,  and  now  they  could  not  conceive 
the  possibility  of  an  existence  apart. 

But  the  day  of  their  wedding  approached.  Only 
five  days  and  they  would  pledge  their  vows  at  the 
altar;  then  they  would  leave  the  great  city  and  in 
a  peaceful  retreat  would  enjoy  pure  happiness  un- 
disturbed by  the  storm  and  stress  of  life.  This  at 
least  was  the  future  they  hoped  for. 

Chaudoreille,  urged  by  a  desire  to  receive  the 
recompense  the  barber  had  promised  him,  had 
already  presented  himself  three  times  at  the  latter's 
house,  saying, — 

"  Has  the  marriage  taken  place  ?  " 

"  Not  yet,"  answered  Touquet. 

Then  Chaudoreille  departed,  muttering,  — 

"  I  wish  they'd  hurry  now.  What  the  deuce  ! 
I  need  some  money.  Why,  in  twelve  days  I'd 
have  married  a  dozen  women." 


CHAPTER  III 
A  Day  with  Chaudoreille 

Chaudoreille,  who  had  not  yet  received  the 
two  pieces  of  gold  which  the  barber  had  promised 
him  found  himself  in  his  usual  penniless  condition 
as  he  went  one  fine  morning  down  the  Rue  des 
Petits  Carreaux.  He  was  just  coming  from  the 
Saint-Germain  fair,  where  he  had  not  on  this 
occasion  found  anybody  disposed  to  receive  a  les- 
son in  skittles,  and  he  was  going  towards  the 
Saint- Laurent  fair,  hoping  that  fortune  would  be 
somewhat  more  favorable  to  him  in  the  latter 
haunt. 

Following  his  custom,  Chaudoreille  walked  with 
his  nose  in  the  air,  ogling  from  one  side  to  the 
other;  his  left  hand  on  his  hip,  and  his  right  hand 
caressing  his  mustache.  As  he  approached  the 
boulevards  he  felt  somebody  pull  gently  at  his 
mantle.  The  pusillanimous  fellow  started  with 
fright,  but  on  turning  his  head  he  perceived  an 
old  servant  maid,  and  seeing  he  had  nothing  to 
fear  he  put  his  hand  on  his  sword,  and  cried 
loudly, — 

"  By  jingo  !  I  thought  it  was  a  man  and  I  was 
going  to  demand    his  reason  for  touching  me. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        39 

What  do  you  want  with  me?  Don't  pull  my 
mantle  so  hard,  it's  a  little  decayed." 

The  old  woman  put  her  finger  on  her  mouth, 
and  with  a  mysterious  air,  said,  — 

"  My  mistress  wishes  to  speak  with  you." 

"  Your  mistress,"  cried  Chaudoreille,  his  fea- 
tures becoming  cheerful,  for  he  did  not  doubt  that 
he  had  made  a  conquest,  "  oh,  that's  it,  my  good 
woman,  I  understand  you.  But  is  she  young  ?  is 
she  rich  ?  is  she  ?  —  Never  mind,  it's  all  the  same, 
lead  me  to  her." 

"  No,  she  can't  receive  you  today,  but  be  here 
tomorrow  at  dusk.  I  will  come  and  look  for  you 
and  will  introduce  you." 

"  It's  enough  !  I'll  be  here,  I'll  not  fail,  whether 
it  rains  or  shines.  One  word,  if  you  please,  mes- 
senger of  love.  Can  you  not  tell  me  where  your 
mistress  has  seen  me  ?  " 

"In  the  street,  I  presume,  since  she  was  at  her 
window.  Tomorrow  evening,  monsieur ;  I  can't 
stop  any  longer." 

"  Go,  Flore  !  go  back  to  Cytheree,"  said  Chau- 
doreille, as  the  old  woman  went  off,  then  he  con- 
tinued on  his  way,  saying, — 

"It's  an  amorous  adventure,  I  know;  —  this 
mystery  and  a  rendezvous  at  dusk.  She  has  seen 
me  through  the  window.  By  jingo  !  I  do  well  to 
look  my  best ;  a  pretty  man  should  always  carry 
himself  as  if  everybody  was  looking  at  him."  He 
then  walked  along,  looking  so  much  in  the  air 


40  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

that  he  ran  against  a  water-carrier  who  was  advan- 
cing quietly  with  his  two  buckets  full,  and  threw 
himself  so  heavily  upon  him  that  one  of  the  buck- 
ets escaped  from  his  hand. 

"  Cursed  idiot,"  cried  the  Auvergnat.  "  Wait, 
take  that  to  teach  you  to  look  before  you ! "  Say- 
ing these  words  the  water-carrier  calmly  emptied 
his  other  bucket  over  Chaudoreille.  The  cheva- 
lier was  drenched.  In  his  fury  he  drew  Rolandc 
from  the  scabbard  and  advanced  on  the  Auver- 
gnat ;  but  the  water-carrier,  without  appearing  at 
all  dismayed  by  the  falchion  which  his  adversary 
flashed  as  he  capered  and  jumped  about  like  one 
possessed,  took  one  of  his  buckets  in  each  hand 
and  tranquilly  awaited  the  expected  onset  of  the 
doughty  knight,  shouting  in  an  aggravatingly 
jeering  tone, — 

"  Come  on,  you  baked  apple !  come  on  stupid, 
that  turnspit  you  term  a  sword  doesn't  frighten 
me  in  the  least." 

Chaudoreille  put  Rolande  in  his  scabbard  again 
and  then  escaped  by  the  boulevard,  crying, 
"  Watch,"  and  followed  by  all  the  idlers,  and  these 
were  not  a  few,  of  the  neighborhood.  The  cheva- 
lier did  not  pause  in  his  flight  until  he  was  pos- 
itively sure  there  was  no  longer  anybody  behind 
him.  He  was  then  quite  near  the  Fosses  Jaunes, 
which  were  excavated  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the 
Ninth,  and  which  extended  from  the  Porte  Saint- 
Denis  nearly  to  the  Porte  Saint-Honore.     These 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        41 

had  been  made  to  still  further  enlarge  Paris.  A 
new  wall  was  built  along  the  Fosses  Jaunes,  and 
also  two  new  gates ;  one.  Rue  Montmartre,  near 
the  Rue  des  Jeuneurs,  replaced  the  old  Porte 
Montmartre,  demolished  in  1633;  the  other. 
Rue  Saint-Honore,  between  the  boulevard  and 
the  Rue  Royale,  replaced  the  one  situated  between 
the  Rue  Richelieu  and  the  Rue  Saint-Honore, 
which  was  erected  in  163 1.  On  the  terrace  within 
this  new  wall  they  presently  laid  out  the  Rues  de 
Clery,  du  Mail,  des  Fosses-Montmartre,  de  Vic- 
toires,  des  Petits-Champs,  etc.  However,  in  the 
midst  of  these  new  constructions  the  hill  of  Salnt- 
Roch  still  preserved  its  picturesque  form  and  its 
windmills. 

Chaudoreille  was  trembling,  he  was  very  cold ; 
and  he  could  not  change  at  his  house,  for  a  reason 
that  one  may  easily  divine.  Fortunately  the 
weather  was  fine  and  the  sun,  while  it  gave  little 
heat,  shone  on  the  promenade,  established  then 
along  the  wall  of  Paris.  The  chevalier  saw  no 
other  means  of  drying  himself  than  that  of  run- 
ning for  two  or  three  hours  in  the  sun,  and  he 
gave  himself  immediately  to  that  exercise,  looking 
much  less  in  the  air  than  formerly,  and  only  an- 
swering some  of  his  acquaintances,  who  asked  him 
why  he  ran  so  quickly,  by  these  words,  — 

"  It's  a  wager,  don't  stop  me.  I  have  put  up  t 
hundred  pistoles  that  I  would  sweat  some  great 
drops." 


42  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  chevalier's  garments  commenced  to  have 
more  consistence  and  he  stopped  to  take  breath. 

"  You  have  missed  your  vocation,  my  friend ; 
you  should  have  been  a  runner  for  some  prince," 
said  a  man,  who  had  stopped  with  two  others,  and 
seemed  to  take  much  pleasure  in  looking  at  Chau- 
doreille,  while  one  of  his  companions,  of  an  ex- 
traordinarily stout  build,  laughed  at  the  top  of  his 
voice,  and  the  third  making  comical  gestures  and 
extraordinary  grimaces  seemed  to  be  trying  to 
copy  the  features  and  the  figure  of  the  runner. 

"  What  do  you  say,  monsieur,"  said  the  son  of 
Gascony  to  the  three  individuals,  who  had  stopped 
before  him,  "  can't  one  run  if  he  wants  to,  cape- 
dedious  ! " 

"  Oh,  his  accent  renders  him  even  more  comi- 
cal," said  the  fat  man.  "  Look  at  him  well,  com- 
rade, it's  necessary  to  reproduce  that  face  for  us 
this  evening.  It  will  be  worth  its  weight  in 
gold." 

"  I  have  it,"  responded  the  third.  "  Hang  it ! 
may  I  stifle  if  I  don't  copy  it  this  evening,  feature 
for  feature." 

"  Have  you  looked  at  me  long  enough,"  said 
Chaudoreille,  ogling  them  from  the  back,  because 
he  did  not  feel  enough  courage  to  look  them  in 
the  face.    "  What  do  you  take  me  to  be  ? " 

"  Oh,  hang  it ! "  said  Turlupin,  to  himself,  for 
it  was  he  who  was  walking  with  his  two  compan- 
ions, Gros-Guillaume  and  Gautier-Garguille.  "  Wc 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        43 

must  try  to  make  the  little  man  angry.  That  can't 
fail  to  amuse  us." 

Approaching  Chaudoreille,  who  was  reflecting 
on  the  grimace  he  should  make,  he  commenced  by 
striking  Rolande's  scabbard  with  the  stick  which 
he  held  in  his  hand,  saying, — 

"What  the  devil  do  you  call  that,  seigneur 
chevalier  ?  ** 

The  chevalier  became  at  one  moment  pale,  red, 
and  yellow. 

"  These  men  are  desirous  of  seeking  a  quarrel 
with  me,"  said  he  to  himself,  looking  around  him 
to  see  if  he  could  make  his  retreat.  But  already 
some  passers-by  had  stopped  and  formed  a  circle ; 
for,  having  recognized  the  three  comedians  who 
had  been  drawing  crowds  at  the  Hotel  de  Bour- 
gogne,  they  did  not  doubt  they  were  going  to  play 
some  farce  with  the  personage  whom  they  were 
surrounding.  The  sight  of  all  these  people  calmed 
Chaudoreille's  fear  a  little. 

"It  is  unlikely,"  said  he  to  himself,  "that  they 
will  let  these  three  men  kill  me  without  rescuing 
me."  He  then  endeavored  to  put  a  good  face  on 
the  matter.  Glancing  at  the  crowd  with  what  he 
meant  to  be  a  look  of  assurance,  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  I  don't  understand  why  these  gentlemen  mo- 
lest me.  I  take  everybody  to  witness  that  I  have 
not  Insulted  them." 

A  general  laugh  was  the  only  answer  Chaudo- 
reille received,  which  had  the  effect  of  increasing 


44  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

his  ill-humor ;  he  angrily  drew  down  his  little  hat 
in  such  a  way  that  the  gold-colored  rosette  almost 
touched  the  tip  of  his  nose,  and  tried  to  make  his 
way  through  the  crowd,  but  they  drew  closer  to 
him  on  every  side,  and  he  found  himself  face  to 
face  with  Turlupin,  who  put  himself  on  guard 
with  his  stick ;  Chaudoreille  turned  another  way 
and  was  confronted  by  Gautier-Garguille,  who 
had  placed  his  hat  precisely  in  the  same  manner 
as  Chaudoreille* s,  and  imitated  exactly  his  piteous 
grimaces;  finally, Gros-Guillaume  barred  the  chev- 
alier's passage  with  his  enormous  corpulence. 

Chaudoreille  was  exasperated,  he  could  bear  no 
more  and  he  drew  Rolande.  Turlupin  advanced 
to  the  combat  with  his  cane,  and  the  chevalier, 
having  eyed  his  adversary's  weapon  out  of  the 
corner  of  his  eye,  put  himself  on  guard,  crying, — 

"Look  to  it,  guard  yourself  carefully;  I  ply 
a  very  strong  blade." 

At  the  end  of  the  third  bout  Turlupin  feigned 
to  be  wounded ;  he  fell,  uttering  a  horrible  groan, 
and  making  a  frightful  contortion.  Gros-Guillaume 
threw  himself  down  beside  him,  exclaiming, — 

"He  is  dead!" 

Chaudoreille  was  stunned  and  bewildered  ;  he 
still  held  his  sword  in  his  hand  and  looked  at 
everyone  as  if  distracted.  Gautier-Garguille  took 
him  by  the  arm  and  led  him  away,  saying, — 

"  Save  yourself;  you  have  killed  the  son  of  the 
King  of  Cochin-China." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK 


45 


Chaudoreille  listened  no  further;  he  went  on 
his  way,  left  Paris  and  darted  across  the  fields  and 
the  marshes  ;  the  three  hours  he  had  spent  in  run- 
ning in  the  sun  had  not  strained  his  legs,  he  felt 
no  fatigue  ;  fear  lent  him  wings,  and  he  did  not 
stop  until  he  believed  that  he  had  escaped  the 
pursuit  of  which  he  imagined  himself  to  be  the 
object.  It  may  seem  astonishing,  perhaps,  that 
the  chevalier  had  not  recognized,  in  the  three  men 
who  had  stopped  him  on  the  boulevard,  the  three 
comedians  whose  performances  were  then  in  great 
vogue,  and  who  permitted  themselves  a  thousand 
licenses  that  the  Parisians  authorized,  and  which 
delighted  even  the  great  noblemen.  But  when 
Chaudoreille  had  any  money  he  passed  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  in  gambling  houses,  and  had  been 
but  rarely  to  the  theatre  called  the  Hotel  de  Bour- 
gogne ;  besides,  Turlupin  and  Gautier-Garguille 
were  so  adept  in  the  art  of  changing  their  physi- 
ognomies that  it  was  difficult  to  recognize  them 
unless  one  had  often  witnessed  their  performances. 

The  fugitive  had  stopped  to  breathe  for  a  mo- 
ment, he  looked  timidly  about  him  and  recognized 
the  locality  ;  he  was  at  the  end  of  the  Faubourg 
Saint -Antoine,  near  the  Vallee  de  Fecamp,  and  he 
perceived  about  three  hundred  paces  from  him 
the  Marquis  de  Villebelle's  little  house. 

Chaudoreille  had  fasted  since  the  evening  be- 
fore, he  was  overcome  with  fatigue  and  believed 
himself  menaced  by  the  greatest  dangers.    In  such 


46  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

circumstances  he  forgot  that  the  barber  had  for- 
bidden him  to  go  there  and  decided  to  ring  at  the 
Httle  house  and  seek  refuge. 

Collecting  his  strength  he  turned  towards  the 
dwelling ;  he  rang  the  bell,  and  Marcel  opened  the 
door  almost  immediately. 

"What,  is  it  you?"  said  he  in  astonishment. 
"  Did  the  marquis  or  M.  Touquet  send  you 
here  ? " 

Before  answering,  Chaudoreille  entered  the  gar- 
den, and  closed  the  door  after  him. 

"  But  what  the  devil  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  " 
said  Marcel.  "What  are  you  doing  here? — and 
your  face  is  in  such  a  state,  all  in  a  cold  sweat ; 
one  would  believe,  on  my  word,  that  you'd  all  the 
sergeants  of  Paris  at  your  heels." 

"  And  you  wouldn't  be  mistaken,"  said  Chaudo- 
reille, in  a  scarcely  audible  voice. 

"  Why,  what  are  you  saying  ?  ** 

"That  I'm  pursued,  or  at  least  I  shall  be. 
That  the  greatest  danger  threatens  me." 

"  My  God  !    What  have  you  done  ? " 

"  I've  killed  the  son  of  the  King  of  Cochin- 
China." 

"  The  son  of  Cochin-China  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes,  just  now,  not  more  than  a  few  min- 
utes ago,  against  the  Fosses-Jaunes  —  near  the 
Porte  Saint-Denis — but  it  was  in  honorable  com- 
bat, a  duel  with  equal  weapons ;  and  Rolande  laid 
him  at  my  feet.    Heavens,  what  a  cry  he  uttered 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        47 

as  he  fell  —  it  still  rings  in  my  ears.  I  slaughtered 
him  like  a  bullock." 

Marcel  listened  with  his  habitual  good-humor ; 
however,  Chaudoreille's  story  appeared  so  extra- 
ordinary that  he  could  not  refrain  from  exclaim- 
ing,— 

"  But,  truly,  can  all  that  be  possible  ?  ** 

"  What,  by  jingo,  you  question  its  possibility, 
—  my  dear  Marcel,  it's  absolutely  true.  You 
know  me ;  you  know  that  I'm  a  hot-headed  fel- 
low, a  rake  of  honor.  It's  a  habit  I've  formed, 
and  what  can  you  expect.  I  can't  reform  myself. 
But  this  time,  at  all  events,  it  was  not  my  fault. 
I  was  walking  quietly  along  by  the  city  wall ;  all 
of  a  sudden  three  men  came  before  me  and  uttered 
some  jokes  which  were  very  much  out  of  place 
and  offended  me ;  I  politely  asked  them  to  allow 
me  to  pass,  but  they  still  obstructed  my  way.  I 
immediately  drew  my  sword,  the  crowd  sur- 
rounded us,  one  of  my  adversaries  put  himself  on 
guard.  I  immediately  rushed  on  him ;  the  com- 
bat was  terrible.  My  enemy  fought  desperately ; 
but  soon  he  fell  at  my  feet,  making  frightful 
grimaces,  and  one  of  his  companions  told  me  I 
had  killed  the  heir  to  the  throne  of  Cochin- 
China." 

"  And  what  the  devil  was  the  Prince  of  Cochin- 
China  doing  on  the  boulevards  with  two  idiots 
who  allowed  him  to  fight  with  you  ?  " 

"  Faith,  I  didn't  have  time  to  get  any  informa- 


48  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

tion  on  that  point;  he  had  no  doubt  come  to 
Paris  to  take  some  exercise  —  the  poor  fellow. 
But  you  can  imagine  that  this  adventure  will  be- 
come notorious  ;  they'll  send  out  a  description  of 
me ;  they'll  put  all  the  squads  in  Paris  in  pursuit 
of  me;  my  dear  Marcel,  it's  necessary  that  you 
should  hide  me  for  several  days.'* 

"  I'm  very  sorry  to  say  that  I  can't  do  it ;  I 
thought  you'd  been  sent  here  by  my  master  with 
orders  for  me  ;  since  that's  not  the  cas6  you  must 
go,  for  he  has  expressly  forbidden  me  to  receive 
anybody  here  except  those  that  are  sent  to  me. 
M.  de  Villebelle  will  discharge  me  if,  on  arriving 
suddenly  with  some  of  his  friends,  he  should  find 
a  stranger  in  the  place." 

"Zounds!  I'm  not  a  stranger,  since  I've  al- 
ready served  your  master  in  his  love  affairs.  My 
dear  Marcel,  you  don't  wish  my  death." 

"  No,  but  I  don't  wish  to  lose  my  place." 

"  You  are  alone  here  ?  " 

"  Of  course  I  am  ;  but  monseigneur  may  come 
when  one  is  least  expecting  him." 

"He  won't  come  today." 

"  You  don't  know  anything  about  it." 

"  I  heg  your  pardon ;  I  know  that  his  presence 
is  commanded  at  court.  I  only  ask  shelter  of  you 
until  tomorrow  —  but.  Marcel,  my  life  is  in  your 
hands." 

"Come,  your  fright  is  very  ill-timed." 

"The  Cochin-Chinas  will  be  leagued  against  mc." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        49 

"  Let  them  league  themselves." 

"  I've  eaten  nothing  since  yesterday," 

"  I'm  not  to  blame  for  that." 

"  Marcel,  will  nothing  move  you  ;  do  you  want 
me  to  throw  myself  at  your  feet  ?  Well,  behold 
me  there.  You  are  softening,  you  yield;  I  see 
tears  in  your  eyes." 

"  Well,  only  just  till  tomorrow ;  but  hang  it,  if 
monseigneur  should  arrive  this  evening  ? " 

"  I  promise  you  I'll  jump  over  the  wall." 

Chaudoreille  breathed  more  freely ;  and  di- 
rected his  steps  towards  the  house. 

"  Oh,  delightful  purlieus,  how  has  my  destiny 
changed  since  I  quitted  you,"  said  the  chevalier, 
drawing  out  his  little  silk  handkerchief  to  dry  his 
eyes.  But  on  reaching  the  dining-room,  which 
he  recognized,  his  sadness  appeared  somewhat 
lessened.  He  was  the  first  to  seat  himself  at  the 
table ;  he  invited  Marcel  to  go  to  the  cellar,  and 
did  not  give  him  a  moment's  rest  until  the  supper 
was  served ;  for  it  was  then  five  o'clock,  and  in 
those  days  everybody  dined  at  midday. 

"I'm  not  hungry  yet,"  said  Marcel,  as  he 
seated  himself,  "  ordinarily  I  don't  sup  until  eight 
o'clock." 

"  Oh,  never  mind  that,  I  can  eat  for  both  of 
us,  and  it  needn't  prevent  our  supping  at  eight 
o'clock ;  for  I  do  not  wish  to  make  any  change 
in  your  usual  habits.  O  my  friend,  what  a  day's 
work ;  if  you  knew  all  that  had  happened  to  me. 

VoU  VIII 


so  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

At  first  it  began  very  well ;  an  amorous  rendez- 
vous given  to  me  by  a  lady  who  fell  in  love  with 
me  through  seeing  me  from  her  window." 

"Pshaw!" 

"  Give  me  a  wing  of  that  fowl.  Yes,  my  friend, 
a  passion  I  inspired  while  watching  the  flight  of 
some  swallows  —  but  —  I  am  used  to  that.  Pour 
me  out  something  to  drink.  I'm  sure  she's  a 
woman  of  high  rank.  She  sent  to  me  by  one  of 
her  slaves,  I  think  it  was  a  mulatto,  or  she  must 
take  a  devil  of  a  lot  of  snuff,  for  her  nose  was  the 
color  of  terra-cotta." 

"And  when  are  you  to  meet?** 

"Tomorrow  evening.  But  at  present,  can  I 
think  of  it?  This  unfortunate  duel  has  spoiled 
all  my  plans.  They'll  perhaps  put  me  in  the 
Bastile  for  five  or  six  years." 

"  Well,  you  are  a  fool." 

"  Oh,  do  you  think  that  anyone  may  kill  the 
Prince  of  Cochin-China  like  a  little  shopkeeper 
of  the  Marais.  My  situation  is  alarming.  Give 
me  some  pasty,  I  beg  of  you. " 

"  Did  you  satisfy  yourself  that  your  man  was 
dead?" 

"  If  you  had  heard  the  cry  he  uttered  as  he  fell, 
you  would  not  doubt  it  yourself.  It's  a  cursed 
day's  work ;  that  thief  of  a  water-carrier  brought 
this  ill  luck  upon  me ! " 

"  A  water-carrier  ? " 

"  Yes,  one  with  whom  I  fought  this  morning." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        51 

"  Are  you  always  fighting  ?  " 

"  Well,  by  jingo,  I  can't  take  twenty  steps  with- 
out fighting;  the  government  should  give  me  a 
pension  to  remain  at  home.  What,  another  stroke 
of  ill  luck  ?  Good  God !  it  seems  to  me  I  hear  a 
great  deal  of  noise  outside." 

"What  does  it  matter  to  us,  it's  only  some 
pages,  lackeys,  or  students  who  are  amusing  them- 
selves by  fighting;  oh,  I'm  accustomed  to  all 
that." 

"  It's  more  likely  they're  coming  to  arrest  me." 

"Nothing  of  the  kind,  I  tell  you." 

"Well,  Marcel,  you're  very  fortunate  in  not 
being  a  man  of  the  sword.'* 

"  A  stick  serves  just  as  well  to  defend  me;  but 
I  don't  seek  a  quarrel  with  anyone." 

"  You're  very  right ;  I  envy  your  gentle  ur- 
banity. But  I  believe  I  hear  nothing  more.  Give 
me  something  to  drink.    I  feel  calmer." 

"  Have  you  done  eating? " 

"  Yes,  I  can  now  wait  till  supper.  Marcel,  it 
was  here  we  wagered  on  the  flies." 

"  I  remember  it." 

"  Will  you  take  part  in  a  game  to  pass  the 
time?" 

"  Much  obliged ;  but  I  didn't  like  the  game." 

"  Oh,  it  wasn't  that  one  I  was  about  to  pro- 
pose ;  but  I  believe  I  happen  to  have  some  cards 
in  my  pocket.    Come,  a  hand  at  piquet?" 

"  No,  I  don't  care  to  play." 


52  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Why,  by  jingo  !  it*s  only  to  pass  a  few  hours ; 
we  shan't  ruin  ourselves  ;  I  haven't  more  than  two 
pieces  of  gold  about  me  ;  and  when  I  shall  have 
lost  that,  to  the  devil  with  me  if  I  continue." 

Marcel  yielded  to  Chaudoreille's  solicitations, 
who  immediately  set  out  the  table  and  drew  a  pack 
of  cards  from  his  pocket,  looking  at  them  tenderly 
as  he  placed  them  between  himself  and  Marcel, 
saying,— 

"  We'll  play  for  a  crown  on  each  side." 

"  It's  too  much." 

"  Pooh  !  one  lost,  another  gained;  it*s  only  be- 
tween the  pair  of  us." 

"  Yes,  but  if  one  wins  all." 

"  Nonsense,  we  are  equally  good  players." 

"  But  you  haven't  laid  your  money  down." 

"  I've  told  you  I've  nothing  but  gold,  I'll 
change  it  when  I've  lost  some  hundreds." 

They  commenced  to  play.  Chaudoreille's  face 
was  animated,  his  eyes  were  shining,  and  seemed 
as  if  they  would  leave  their  orbits  to  look  at  his 
adversary's  play. 

"  These  cards  are  not  new,"  said  Marcel, "  they 
are  all  stained  or  marked." 

"  That's  because  they've  been  so  much  used 
apparently.  I  leave  it  to  you,"  said  Chaudoreille, 
looking  carefully  at  the  backs  of  the  cards  which 
were  at  the  bottom  of  the  pack. 

"  Hang  it !  you've  made  me  a  pretty  present ; 
there,  these  are  the  seven  and  the  eight." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        53 

Chaudoreille  won  the  first  game,  then  a  second 
and  a  third,  because,  thanks  to  the  marks  he  had 
made  on  the  back  of  each  card,  he  knew  them  as 
well  by  their  backs  as  by  their  faces. 

"  It's  singular,"  said  Marcel,  "  that  I  never  win 
anything ;  you  always  have  the  best  cards." 

"What  would  you  have.?  It's  chance,  luck; 
but  it  will  probably  turn." 

The  luck  did  not  turn  and  Marcel's  crowns 
passed  into  Chaudoreille's  pocket.  The  chevalier 
was  scarlet,  trembling,  and  the  veins  on  his  fore- 
head were  swollen  by  the  ardor  of  his  play,  when 
the  bell  at  the  garden  gate  rang  violently. 

"Oh, the  deuce!  there's  somebody,"said  Marcel. 

"  I  am  lost !  "  cried  Chaudoreille  jumping  on 
his  chair,  "  it  is  somebody  come  to  arrest  me." 

He  immediately  rose  and  ran  around  the  room, 
went  through  the  first  door  he  saw  and  disappeared, 
without  listening  to  Marcel,  who  called  to  him, — 

"  It's  monseigneur  ;  it's  M.  de  Villebelle  ;  keep 
still  and  I'll  let  you  out  without  his  seeing  you." 

But  Chaudoreille  had  disappeared  and  the  bell 
continued  to  ring.  Marcel  was  obliged  to  open 
the  gate  without  knowing  what  had  become  of  his 
guest. 


CHAPTER  IV 

The  Little  Supper 

"  And  pray  why  did  you  make  us  wait  so  long, 
clown  ?  "  said  the  marquis  angrily  to  Marcel,  as 
he  entered  the  garden  with  three  men,  two  of 
whom  were  enveloped  in  their  cloaks,  while  the 
third  had  no  hat  and  nothing  to  cover  his  velvet 
doublet,  which  was  stained  in  many  places  with 
mud ;  this,  however,  did  not  prevent  its  owner 
from  bursting  into  shouts  of  laughter  as  he  looked 
at  himself,  as  though  he  still  enjoyed  some  frolic 
in  which  he  had  participated. 

"  Follow  me,  my  friends,"  said   the  marquis. 

"  Oh,  I  know  the  way  to  your  little  nest  of 
the  Faubourg,"  said  one,  "  it's  not  the  first  time 
I've  come  here." 

"  Nor  me." 

"  That's  all  very  well ;  as  for  me,  messieurs, 
I  make  my  first  appearance  here  today  and  in  a 
brilliant  costume  I  hope.  Ha!  Ha!  What  the 
devil !  if  anybody  should  happen  to  divine  that 
I  ought  to  be  present  this  evening  at  the  petit 
coucher,  'twould  be  deuced  awkward  for  me!" 

"  Come,  Marcel,  show  us  a  light,"  said  the 
marquis,  pushing  the  valet  before  him,  while  the 

54 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        s^ 

latter,  anxious  and  uneasy,  was  constantly  glanc- 
ing around  him. 

"  You've  been  sleeping  already,  rascal,  for  you 
look  stupefied." 

"Yes,  monseigneur,  that's  true,  I  have  been 
asleep." 

"  He  lives  the  life  of  a  canon  here.  He  does 
nothing  but  eat  and  sleep." 

While  speaking  they  had  reached  the  house. 
Happily  for  Marcel  the  marquis  never  went  into 
the  lower  room,  where  the  card  table  was  still 
standing.  They  went  up  into  the  apartment  on 
the  first  floor.  Marcel  lighted  many  candles,  while 
the  marquis'  friends  threw  themselves  into  arm- 
chairs, and  Villebelle  took  oflF  his  mantle,  saying, — 

"  Come,  hasten  yourself,  and  serve  us  supper 
of  all  that  you  can  get  together  ;  there  are  always 
provisions  here.  You  have  a  poultry  yard,  a  pigeon 
house ;  put  some  fowls  quickly  on  the  spit.  We'll 
play  while  waiting  for  them  to  be  served.  Prepare 
the  card  table.  Open  that  drawer,  there  are  some 
cards  and  dice  in  it.  Gentlemen,  you  will  perhaps 
have  meagre  fare.  I  did  not  expect  the  pleasure 
of  entertaining  you  this  evening,  but  at  least  you 
shall  have  some  good  wine.  The  cellar  is  well 
furnished  and  we  shall  not  lack  champagne." 

"  Hang  it !  that's  the  principal  thing,"  said  a 
big,  pale  young  man  whose  features  were  regular, 
but  who  was  disfigured  by  the  scar  of  a  sword-cut 
across  his  left  cheek. 


S6  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  I,  too,  am  of  the  vicomte's  opinion,"  said  his 
neighbor,  who  appeared  to  be  some  years  older, 
and  whose  stoutness  and  high  color  contrasted 
with  the  physique  of  the  first  speaker. 

"  Champagne  before  everything." 

"  Oh,  I  recognize  there  that  drunkard  De  Mont- 
geran,"  said  the  young  man  with  disordered  cos- 
tume. **  As  for  me  I  am  not  displeased  when  the 
entertainment  consists  of  wine.  But  let*s  play, 
gentlemen,  let's  play ;  it*s  necessary  that  I  should 
recoup  a  hat  and  a  cloak." 

"  You  might  even  add  a  doublet ;  for  I  don't 
think  that  you  can  present  yourself  anywhere  in 
that  one." 

**  Those  cursed  shopkeepers,  how  they  did  re- 
sist this  evening.  That's  all  right,  I  had  flogged 
three  of  them." 

"Yes,  but  except  for  the  marquis  and  I  you 
would  have  been  in  a  very  bad  position." 

"  Well !  what  the  devil  brought  the  quarrel 
about?  for  I  don't  know  yet  why  I  fought." 

"A  trifling  thing,  a  mere  bagatelle;  because  I 
was  carrying  off  with  me  a  little  bookkeeper's 
wife,  the  impertinent  husband  permitted  himself 
to  shout !  The  idiot,  I  should  have  sent  his  wife 
back  at  the  end  of  two  days.  Hang  it  1  I'd  no 
desire  to  keep  her." 

**  Perhaps  that's  why  he  was  angry." 

"  I  said  a  couple  of  words  for  him  to  the  super- 
intendent ;  before  long  our  clerk  will  be  destitute." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        57 

"  That's  as  it  should  be,  it's  necessary  to  teach 
these  plebeians  manners,  who  persuade  them- 
selves that  they  only  ta:ke  a  wife  for  themselves." 

"In  your  place  I  should  have  asked  for  a  lettre- 
de-cachet." 

"  We  shall  see ;  that  might  still  be  done." 

During  this  conversation  Marcel  had  prepared 
everything;  he  went  down  to  the  groundfloor 
and,  while  making  his  preparations  for  supper, 
called  his  comrade  in  a  low  tone,  and  looked  in 
every  corner  of  the  room,  but  he  had  disappeared. 

"  Where  the  devil  has  he  hidden  himself,"  said 
Marcel,  who  then  looked  in  all  the  other  rooms  and 
went  down  to  the  cellar,  where  he  called  Chaudo- 
reille  again  without  receiving  any  answer.  "He 
has  apparently  escaped  into  the  garden  and  from 
there  he  will  have  jumped  over  the  walls,  as  he 
said  he  would  do.  However,  that  astonishes  me, 
for  he  would  hardly  care  to  leave  the  house." 

The  marquis  and  his  companions  sat  down  to 
play,  and  while  waiting  for  the  supper  they  cracked 
several  bottles  of  champagne  to  put  themselves  in 
good  spirits  ;  that  is  to  say,  to  arouse  in  them  the 
desire  to  commit  new  follies.  The  most  extrava- 
gant bets  were  proposed  and  accepted,  and  while 
playing,  drinking,  singing,  each  one  related  his 
good  fortune,  his  gallant  adventures,  drew  his 
mistress'  portrait,  and  passed  in  review  the  women 
of  fashion,  sparing  the  honest  women  no  more 
than  the  courtesans. 


58  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

At  last  Marcel  came  to  announce  that  supper 
was  served  in  a  neighboring  room  and  the  gentle- 
men left  their  play  to  go  to  the  table.  The  room 
in  which  the  supper  was  served  equalled  by  its 
elegance  the  other  rooms  of  this  delightful  retreat ; 
while  it  served  habitually  for  banquets,  the  beauty 
and  the  taste  of  its  frescoes,  the  statues  which 
decorated  it,  the  sofas  which  furnished  it,  the 
lustres  which  lighted  it,  recalled  the  salons  of  an- 
cient Rome  where  Horace,  Propertius  and  Tibu- 
lus,  surrounded  by  their  friends  and  their  competi- 
tors, sang  of  love  and  the  charms  of  their  mis- 
tresses while  passing  amphorae  filled  with  falernian, 
or  carrying  to  their  lips  cups  where  sparkled 
caecubum  or  massicum ;  and  while  crowned  with 
myrtle  and  acanthus,  in  order  to  resemble  their 
deities,  proving  only  too  well  that  they  had  all  the 
weaknesses  of  mortals. 

Sybarites  of  a  later  time,  the  young  men  assem- 
bled at  Villebelle's  drank  deep  draughts  of  the 
generous  wine  with  which  the  table  was  so  amply 
provided ;  the  marquis  furnishing  them  an  ex- 
ample by  his  avidity  in  emptying  the  flasks.  De- 
corum and  etiquette  were  banished  from  the 
repast,  where  liberty  often  degenerated  into  license. 
The  convives  had  drawn  the  sofas  to  the  table, 
and  each  one,  half  lying  down  like  a  pasha,  held 
a  glass  of  champagne  which  he  emptied,  shouting 
with  laughter  at  the  follies  of  which  he  heard  or 
at  those  which  he  had  himself  committed. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  59 

The  young  man  who  had  come  without  a  hat, 
and  who  was  called  the  Chevalier  de  Chavagnac, 
was  seated  opposite  a  beautiful  statue  representing 
Psyche,  to  which  he  often  raised  his  eyes.  All  of 
a  sudden  he  interrupted  the  fat  Montgeran,  who 
was  singing,  by  exclaiming,  — 

"  May  the  thunder  crush  me,  if  this  Psyche 
didn't  move ! " 

"  What  the  devil  are  you  saying  now  ?  "  asked 
the  marquis. 

"I'm  saying,  I'm  saying  your  Psyche  has  come 
to  life,  or  I  must  be  blind." 

"  Oh,  hang  it,  how  delightful  it  would  be  if  that 
pretty  woman  could  come  and  take  her  place 
amongst  us." 

"  Gentlemen,  it  was  no  doubt  Montgeran's 
voice  which  worked  this  miracle.  A  new  Pygma- 
lion, he  softens  marble." 

"  You  needn't  make  fun  of  my  voice,  gentle- 
men, it  is  held  in  no  small  estimation.  It  must 
rather  have  been  your  cynical  conversation  which 
made  poor  Psyche  blush.  But  let  me  sing  instead 
of  listening  to  De  Chavagnac's  stupidity,  who  can't 
see  clearly  because  he  has  drunk  so  much." 

"  Yes,  assuredly,  I  have  been  drinking,  but  I 
can  still  see.  I've  been  looking  at  that  statue  for 
a  long  while,  and  several  times  it  appeared  to  me 
as  if  it  moved." 

**  Marquis,  are  there  any  ghosts  in  your  little 
house  ? " 


6o  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"I  have  never  seen  any  here,  but  it  would  be 
very  amiable  of  them  to  come  and  pay  us  a  visit 
while  we  are  at  table.  We  would  make  them  hob- 
nob with  us." 

"Come  sing,  Montgeran,  we  will  listen  to  you ; 
but  be  a  trifle  less  artificial.  I  prefer  the  natural 
method." 

"  Yes,  gentlemen,  I  will  then  give  you ;  *  The 
shepherd  in  order  to  admire  the  charms  of  his 
shepherdess  took  the  first '  —  " 

"  Now,  I  shall  know  what  it  is,"  said  De  Cha- 
vagnac,  rising  precipitately  and  running  towards 
the  statue.  As  he  neared  it  the  Psyche  made  so 
lively  a  movement  that  she  would  have  fallen  from 
her  pedestal  on  to  the  floor,  if  the  young  man  had 
not  received  her  in  his  arms,  and  placed  her  on  the 
ground.  All  the  convives  had  their  eyes  fixed  on 
De  Chavagnac,  who,  after  placing  the  Psyche  in 
safety,  reapproached  the  pedestal,  which  was  about 
three  feet  high  and  one  and  one  half  in  circum- 
ference. 

"  There  is  something  inside  it,"  cried  the  young 
man,  who  perceived  that  the  pedestal  was  hollow, 
and  had  an  opening  in  the  side  which  was  turned 
towards  the  wall. 

"Someone  inside  it?"  repeated  the  others,  half 
rising.  At  the  same  moment  a  thin,  trembling 
voice,  which  seemed  to  come  out  of  the  earth,  ut- 
tered these  words,  — 

"  No  violence,  gentlemen,  I  will  yield  without 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        6i 

resistance,"  and,  in  a  moment,  Chaudoreille's  little 
head  peeped  from  behind  the  pedestal  and  showed 
itself  to  the  gentlemen,  who  burst  into  a  shout  of 
laughter,  exclaiming, — 

"  What  a  handsome  face  !  " 

However,  De  Chavagnac,  who  had  remained 
near  the  niche  of  the  statue,  took  Chaudoreille  by 
the  mustache  and  forced  him  to  emerge  from  his 
hiding  place.  Then,  having  examined  the  person- 
age whose  piteous  face  rendered  him  still  more 
comic,  he  went  laughingly  to  take  his  place  at  the 
table,  while  the  poor  devil  whom  he  had  dislodged 
threw  himself  on  his  knees  before  them  and  with- 
out daring  to  raise  his  eyes  murmured,  clasping 
his  hands, — 

"Gentlemen  if  I  have  killed  the  Prince  of 
Cochin-China  it  was  against  my  will  and  because 
he  had  provoked  me,  but  I  swear  to  you  that  I 
will  not  try  it  again ;  I  will  not  even  carry  Ro- 
lande,  if  they  exact  it  of  me." 

"  What  the  devil  is  he  saying  ?  " 

"  Do  you  understand  any  of  it,  marquis  ? " 

"  My  faith,  no !  He  is  speaking  about  the 
Prince  of  Cochin-China." 

«  He's  a  fool !  " 

"  Hang  it !  we  must  amuse  ourselves  with  him." 

"  One  moment ;  it  is  necessary  that  I  should 
learn  how  this  .clown  penetrated  here.  Hello ! 
Marcel,  Marcel." 

While   Marcel  was   coming  upstairs   Chaudo- 


62  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

reille's  terror  became  somewhat  lessened.  While 
he  had  been  immured  in  the  pedestal  a  murmuring 
sound  only  penetrated  to  his  ears,  and  he  believed 
that  the  room  was  filled  with  armed  men  who 
were  looking  for  him.  Now  the  words  which  he 
caught,  the  name  of  the  marquis  which  he  heard 
pronounced,  taught  him  the  truth.  Reassured 
that  his  life  was  in  no  danger,  he  began  to  glance 
pleadingly  at  the  persons  who  surrounded  the 
table,  and  meeting  nothing  but  laughing  faces  he 
entirely  recovered  his  spirits. 

Marcel  entered  and,  at  the  sight  of  Chaudoreille, 
remained  stunned  and  confused  before  his  master. 

"  Who  is  this  man.  Marcel  ? "  said  the  marquis. 
"  Is  he  a  thief?  is  it  he  or  you  whom  we  ought  to 
hang  ?  Come,  speak,  clown,  and  tell  us  the  truth, 
or  you  shall  be  chastised  in  good  fashion." 

Marcel,  trembling,  did  not  know  how  to  excuse 
himself  for  having  received  someone  despite  the 
commands  of  the  marquis,  and  muttered,  — 

"  Monseigneur,  I  couldn't  help  it,  I  did  not 
wish  to,  I  refused  him  at  first." 

**  Monseigneur,"  exclaimed  Chaudoreille,  rising 
and  standing  on  his  tiptoes, "  if  you  will  permit 
me  I  will  relate  to  your  excellency  how  all  this 
happened,  for  I  see  that  Marcel  will  find  it  diffi- 
cult to  come  to  an  end." 

**  The  trembler  has  recovered  his  speech,"  said 
the  big  Montgeran,  who  could  not  take  his  eyes 
from  Chaudoreille. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        63 

"  Come,  marquis,  let  him  speak." 

"  Yes,  yes,  he  will  make  us  laugh,"  cried  the 
others. 

"Very  well,  gentlemen,  since  you  desire  it. 
Come,  speak,  you  little  cur;  and  you.  Marcel, 
remain  there  to  give  him  the  lie  if  he  attempts  to 
deceive  us." 

Though  the  sobriquet,  little  cur,  made  Chaudo- 
reille  knit  his  brow,  permission  to  speak  before 
noblemen  of  high  rank  caused  him  so  much  pleas- 
ure that  he  immediately  assumed  a  smiling  ex- 
pression, and  commenced  his  speech, — 

"  Messeigneurs,  your  excellencies  behold  in  me 
Loustic-Goliath  de  Chaudoreille,  Knight  of  the 
Round  Table ;  descended  on  the  male  side  from 
the  famous  Milo  of  Crotona,  and  on  the  female 
side  from  the  celebrated  Delilah,  who,  sacrificing 
herself  for  her  country,  had  the  courage  to  cut 
from  Samson,  her  lover,  that  which  made  his 
strength." 

Shouts  of  laughter  here  interrupted  the  orator. 
"  It's  delightful !  he's  charming  !  He's  worth  his 
weight  in  gold  1  " 

"  Hang  it !  "  said  Chaudoreille,  "  I  was  sure 
that  I  only  had  to  speak." 

"  In  fact,  descendant  of  Delilah,"  said  the  mar- 
quis, "  what  is  your  business  ?  " 

Chaudoreille  appeared  embarrassed  for  the  mo- 
ment, then  he  exclaimed  volubly,  — 

"  Defender  and  protector  of  beauty  —  and  of 


64  THE  BARBER  OF'  PARIS 

gambling  houses  ;  understanding  how  to  bear  arms 
and  to  play  at  piquet;  teaching  music,  and  the  way 
to  turn  the  king  or  ace  at  will ;  succoring  young 
men  of  family  and  girls  who  have  been  seduced ; 
bearer  of  love  letters  ;  master  of  the  sitar  ;  duel- 
list and  messenger,  —  and  all  at  a  very  moderate 
price." 

"  But  what  a  treasure  we  have  in  this  man ! " 

"  Finally,  who  led  you  here  ?  " 

"  Your  excellencies  have  heard  me  speak  of  my 
duel  this  morning.  I  killed  the  Prince  of  Cochin- 
China  near  the  Porte  Saint-Denis." 

"  The  Prince  of  Cochin-China,  and  where  the 
devil  did  you  find  such  a  prince  as  that  ? " 

"  By  the  side  of  the  Fosses-Jaunes.  I  was  walk- 
ing quietly  along,  he  came  up  and  assaulted  mc, 
and  I  fought  him.   Isn't  that  true.  Marcel  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it's  very  true  that  he  told  me  all  that, 
monseigneur.  He  arrived  here  wild  with  fright, 
and  exhausted ;  he  told  me  that  he  was  pursued, 
and  though  I  did  not  understand  all  his  history  of 
the  prince,  I  saw  that  he  trembled,  so  I  consented 
to  allow  him  to  come  in  for  a  moment.  We  were 
having  supper  when  you  came  in,  monseigneur, 
and  immediately  he  fled,  seeing  and  hearing  noth- 
ing." 

"  Yes,  monseigneur,"  said  Chaudoreille,  "  I  be- 
lieved that  the  archers  and  the  sergeants  were  com- 
ing to  arrest  me,  and  I  hid  in  the  first  place  that 
I  could  see." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       6^ 

"  Do  you  think,  clown,  that  I  believe  the  story 
you  told  Marcel  in  order  to  get  some  supper  ?  " 

"  Monseigneur,  I  swear  to  you  !  " 

"  Peace ! " 

"  There  were  witnesses  to  the  duel." 

"  Silence,  I  tell  you  !  To  come  to  this  house 
to  seek  Marcel,  you  must  have  known  that  he 
lived  here.  Who  taught  you  the  way  to  this  dwell- 
ing ?  Did  you  know  that  it  belonged  to  me  ?  and 
if  you  knew  it  belonged  to  me,  who  gave  you  the 
audacity  to  present  yourself  here." 

Chaudoreille,  who  perceived  that  the  marquis 
was  no  longer  joking,  answered  with  less  assur- 
ance, — 

"  Monseigneur,  I've  already  had  the  honor  of 
visiting  here  in  your  lordship's  service." 

"  To  serve  me,  rascal  ? " 

"  Yes,  monseigneur ;  I  served  you  indirectly  in 
a  certain  matter  with  a  young  Italian,  an  elope- 
ment on  the  Pont  de  Latournelle.  It  was  I  whom 
Touquet  charged  to  keep  watch." 

"  O  marquis,"  said  the  three  guests,  smiling, 
**  this  is  clear  enough.  The  chevalier  of  the  Round 
Table  has  ministered  to  your  love." 

"  I've  had  that  honor,  monseigneurs,"  an- 
swered Chaudoreille,  bowing,  and  twisting  his 
mustaches. 

"  Hang  it !  I  don't  remember  it,"  cried  the 
marquis,  looking  hard  at  Chaudoreille.  "What, 
Touquet,  so  clever,  so  inventive,   could  he  be 

VoL  VIII 


66  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

served  by  such  a  marionette.  Come,  that  is  not 
possible." 

"  Monseigneur,"  said  Chaudoreille,  compress- 
ing his  lips,  "  if  you  knew  the  talents  of  the  one 
you  call  marionette,  you  would,  perhaps,  speak 
differently.  Touquet  himself  is  only  a  beginner 
beside  me.** 

"  Oh,  as  to  that,  clown,  it  is  necessary  that  you 
should  justify  your  boasting  or  that  you  should 
perish  beneath  the  stick.  For  some  days  I  have 
been  suffering  from  ennui ;  I  don't  find  anyone,  at 
the  court  or  in  the  town,  who  deserves  my  homage. 
My  Italian,  even,  has  commenced  to  tire  me.  I 
wish  —  I  don't  know  —  I  would  give  all  the  world 
for  the  capacity  of  falling  truly  in  love ;  find  me 
a  woman  who  is  capable  of  inspiring  me  with  this 
feeling.  I  will  give  you  twenty-four  hours  to 
discover  this  treasure  for  me.  A  hundred  pistoles 
for  you  if  you  gratify  my  wishes,  a  hundred  strokes 
of  the  stick  if  you  are  not  successful.'* 

"That's  it!  That's  it,"  shouted  Villebelle*s 
guests,  "if  he  is  successful  in  what  you  have 
given  him  to  do,  tell  us  and  we  will  employ  him 
in  turn." 

"  O  capededious,'*  said  Chaudoreille  to  him- 
self, "a  hundred  pistoles  if  I  render  him  amor- 
ous. Zounds  !  my  fortune  will  be  made.  But  a 
hundred  blows  of  the  stick  if  I  am  not  successful. 
How  can  I  render  a  man  amorous  who  is  tired  of 
everything,  and  that  in  twenty-four  hours.   O  my 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         67 

genius  inspire  me !  Ah,  if  my  portress  resembled 
this  Psyche." 

"Wait,  drink  that,"  said  Montgeran,  present- 
ing Chaudoreille  with  a  large  glass  full  of  madeira. 
"That  will  help  you,  perhaps,  to  find  what  Ville- 
belle  wants." 

Chaudoreille  emptied  the  glass  at  a  draught, 
after  humbly  bowing  to  the  company;  then  he 
struck  his  forehead  sharply,  made  a  leap  forward, 
and  exclaimed,  — 

"  I  have  found  her !  " 

"  The  wine  has  already  operated,"  said  De  Cha- 
vagnac. 

"  Come,  speak,"  cried  the  marquis,  "what  have 
you  found  ? " 

**  Monseigneur,"  said  Chaudoreille,  bowing  with 
respect,  "  deign  to  permit  me  to  speak  to  you 
without  witnesses." 

"  The  clown  is  right,"  said  the  marquis  rising 
from  the  table.  "If  he  should  speak  before  you 
each  one  wouldwish  to  assure  himself  of  the  truth 
of  his  recital,  and  we  should  become  rivals.  Mar- 
cel carry  a  light  into  the  next  room.  Come,  my 
Chaudoreille,  I  will  give  you  an  audience.  Have 
patience,  gentlemen,  I  shall  not  be  long." 

Saying  these  words,  the  marquis  went  into  the 
next  room,  and  Chaudoreille  followed  him  with  an 
air  so  important  and  mysterious  that  it  greatly 
amused  the  three  persons  who  remained  at  the 
table. 


68  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

When  Chaudoreille  found  himself  alone  with 
the  marquis,  he  examined  the  doors  to  see  if  they 
were  shut,  and  stooped  to  look  under  the  table, 
but  the  marquis  pulled  him  by  the  ear,  saying,  — 

"  What  signifies  all  this  ceremony  ?  " 

"  Monseigneur,  it  is  that  I'm  about  to  speak  of 
something  mysterious,  a  secret,  and  I  don't  wish 
that  anybody  should  know  it.  I  shall  expose  my- 
self to  great  danger  in  speaking ;  they  will  perhaps 
want  to  take  my  life." 

"  You'll  expose  yourself  to  a  great  deal  more  by 
not  speaking,"  said  the  marquis  impatiently,  seiz- 
ing the  fire  shovel. 

"  I'm  about  to  do  so,  monseigneur.  I  wager 
you've  never  seen  Touquet's  daughter." 

"Touquet's  daughter.    Has  he  a  daughter?" 

"  Not  exactly,  monseigneur ;  she's  only  a  child 
that  he  adopted  about  ten  years  ago." 

"  Touquet  adopted  a  child  ?  Hang  it!  that  sur- 
prises me." 

"  I  was  very  sure,  monseigneur,  that  you  were 
ignorant  of  the  circumstance." 

"  There's  something  mysterious  about  it." 

"  Very  extraordinary.  No  one  would  guard  a 
girl  so  closely  unless  he  were  keeping  her  for 
himself" 

"What  is  this  girl  like?" 

"She's  an  angel,  monseigneur,  divinely  beau- 
tiful, an  enchantress ;  hardly  sixteen  years  of  age, 
with  the  figure  of  a  nymph,  and  Touquet  spreads 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       69 

It  abroad  that  she  is  ugly  and  ill-made,  that  there 
is  nothing  pleasing  about  her.  He  has  even  ordered 
me  to  tell  it  all  about.  If  I  have  seen  young 
Blanche  it's  only  because  the  barber,  wishing  to 
have  her  taught  music,  was  obliged  to  introduce 
me  into  her  room,  which  she  never  leaves." 

"This  is  all  very  singular,"  said  the  marquis, 
"and  you  pique  my  curiosity." 

"  Good  !  I  shall  have  a  hundred  pistoles,"  said 
Chaudoreille  to  himself,  "  that's  much  better  than 
the  two  golden  crowns  which  the  barber  promised 
me,  to  say  nothing  of  the  honor  of  acting  as  the 
Marquis  of  Villebelle's  business  man." 

"And  you  say  it's  not  because  he  is  in  love 
with  her  himself  that  he  hides  this  young  girl," 
resumed  the  marquis,  after  a  moment. 

"  No,  monseigneur,  for  a  few  days  from  now  he 
is  about  to  marry  her." 

"  To  marry  her  ?  ** 

"Yes,  monseigneur,  to  a  young  man  whom 
the  beautiful  Blanche  did  not  know,  I  am  sure ; 
for  no  one  ever  went  near  her  except  your  humble 
servant.  I  bet  that  Touquet  has  sacrificed  her,  and 
that  the  poor  little  thing  hates  her  future  hus- 
band." 

Here  Chaudoreille  said  what  he  did  not  think, 
but  he  imagined  it  more  prudent  to  present  the 
matter  in  that  aspect. 

The  marquis  reflected  for  some  moments,  then 
he  said,  — 


70  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Tell  me  quickly  all  that  you  know  about  the 
adoption  of  that  young  girl." 

"Yes,  monseigneur.  About  ten  years  ago,  Tou- 
quet,  who  then  had  not  a  sou,  took  lodgers  in 
addition  to  his  business  as  a  barber  and  bath- 
keeper.  One  evening  a  gentleman  went  to  his 
house,  with  a  little  girl  five  or  six  years  old,  and 
requested  a  bed.  Touquet  received  him.  The 
traveller  went  out  the  same  evening,  leaving  his 
little  girl  with  Touquet,  and  that  night  he  was 
murdered  in  the  Rue  Saint-Honore  near  the  Bar- 
riere  des  Sergents." 

"Were  the  murderers  discovered,"  said  the 
marquis,  looking  attentively  at  Chaudoreille. 

"Oh,  no,  monseigneur,"  responded  the  latter, 
smiling  almost  imperceptibly,  "  but  —  sometime 
afterwards  Touquet  was  possessed  of  enough  to 
buy  the  house  which  he  had  rented." 

The  marquis  made  a  sudden  movement,  like 
that  of  a  man  who  is  about  to  step  on  a  snake. 
A  long  silence  succeeded,  during  which  Chaudo- 
reille kept  his  eyes  bent  on  the  ground,  not  daring 
to  seek  to  read  those  of  the  marquis. 

"  And  it  is  the  daughter  of  that  man  whom  he 
adopted,"  said  Villebelle,  breaking  the  silence. 

"  Yes,  monseigneur,  it  is  she." 

"What  was  her  father's  name ?  " 

"  Moranval,  at  least,  so  I  believe.  Nothing  was 
found  upon  him  but  an  insignificant  letter,  which 
gave  no  information  in  regard  to  his  family." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        71 

"  And  his  daughter  is  beautiful  ?  " 

"As  far  as  I  am  competent  to  judge,  monsei- 
gneur,  and  if  you  should  see  her  —  " 

"Yes,  I  shall  see  her." 

"  Monseigneur,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you 
that  Touquet  has  expressly  forbidden  me  to  speak 
of  young  Blanche  and  of  her  coming  marriage.  In 
order  to  be  agreeable  to  your  lordship  I  have  sac- 
rificed myself;  but  the  barber  is  wicked,  very 
wicked.  I  beg  of  you,  monseigneur,  not  to  tell 
him  that  you  learned  all  this  from  me." 

"  Be  easy  about  that." 

"In  any  case  I  beg  to  be  allowed  to  claim  the 
protection  of  monseigneur  in  regard  to  my  duel 
with  the  Prince  of  Cochin-China,  which  is  not  a 
falsehood  as  monseigneur  appears  to  believe." 

The  marquis  was  reflecting  deeply ;  finally  he 
rose,  saying  to  Chaudoreille,  — 

"  Follow  me,  and  not  a  word  of  all  this.  In 
twenty -four  hours  you  will  return  here,  and  if  you 
have  not  deceived  me  you  will  receive  the  recom- 
pense which  I  have  promised  you." 

Chaudoreille  bowed  nearly  to  the  ground  and 
followed  the  marquis.  They  returned  to  the  ban- 
quet hall,  where  his  guests  awaited  with  impatience 
Villebelle's  return. 

"Well,"  said  De  Chavagnac,  as  he  entered," was 
it  worth  the  trouble  of  leaving  the  table  ? " 

"  I  think  so,"  answered  the  marquis ;  "  but  as 
to  that  I  shall  be  better  able  to  tell  you  after 


72  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

tomorrow.  Chaudoreille,  go  down  with  Marcel 
and  make  him  give  you  some  supper  before  you 
leave."  The  latter  did  not  wait  for  this  order  to 
be  repeated.  He  went  down  to  look  for  Marcel 
and,  already  assuming  a  patronizing  air,  made  the 
valet  serve  him  with  all  that  he  thought  best,  while 
saying  to  his  old  friend,  — 

"  I  am  in  great  favor  with  your  master,  treat  me 
well  and  I  can  say  two  words  for  you.  Above  all 
never  refuse  to  play  a  game  of  piquet  with  me,  or 
I'll  cause  you  to  lose  favor  with  monseigneur.** 

Poor  Marcel,  who  understood  nothing  of  all 
this,  allowed  his  intimate  friend  to  beat  him  at  six 
games.  Finally,  day  appeared,  and  Chaudoreille 
left  the  house  saying,  — 

"  I  shall  come  back  this  evening  at  ten  o*clock. 
The  marquis  has  made  an  appointment  with  me." 
Then  he  ventured  into  the  Faubourg,  stopping 
whenever  he  saw  from  afar  two  men  together,  and 
with  a  mysterious  air  inquiring  of  some  shop- 
keepers if  they  had  heard  anyone  speak  of  the 
death  of  Cochin-China.  As  nobody  understood 
what  he  said,  he  finally  persuaded  himself  that 
his  prince  was  dead,  but  that  nobody  knew  who 
he  was,  and  more  tranquil  as  to  the  result  of  the 
affair  he  at  length  ventured  to  reenter  Paris. 

After  the  secret  interview  of  the  marquis  and 
Chaudoreille,  the  four  profligates  returned  to  their 
play  ;  but  the  party  was  no  longer  gay.  Villebelle 
was  preoccupied  and  took  little  part  in  the  con- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        73 

versation;  the  vicomte  was  sleepy;  fat  Mont- 
geran  no  longer  sang,  and  Chavagnac  was  tired  of 
losing.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  these 
gentlemen  separated,  each  one  returning  to  his 
dwelling  in  the  city  and  the  marquis  reentered 
his  hotel,  reflecting  on  all  that  Chaudoreille  had 
told  him. 


CHAPTER  V 

Having  Money  and  Power  One  May  Dare 
Everything 

"Only  two  days  more  and  I  shall  be  your 
husband,  my  Blanche,"  said  Urbain,  pressing  the 
young  girl's  hands  in  a  tender  transport. 

"  Oh,  my  dearest,  how  very  happy  we  shall  be, 
when  we  no  longer  have  to  part,  even  for  a  few 
hours,"  answered  Blanche,  smiling  at  her  lover, 
"  how  much  I  shall  like  living  in  the  country ! 
I  shall  breathe  more  freely  there  in  the  pure 
air,  I  am  sure,  than  in  this  close  room.  We  shall 
play  and  run  on  the  grass,  shall  we  not,  dear  ? " 

"  Yes,  and  we  will  work  in  our  own  garden." 

"  How  delightful !  We  shall  have  flowers  then, 
and  I  am  so  passionately  fond  of  them." 

**  We  shall  have  some  cows  also,  I  hope,"  said 
Marguerite. 

"  Oh,  yes,  dear  nurse,  and  some  pigeons,  and 
rabbits  and  fowls — it  will  all  be  so  delightful.  It 
seems  to  me  that  when  I  was  a  very  little  child 
I  lived  in  the  country,  in  a  house  where  they  had 
all  those  things." 

**  Poor  Blanche  !  and  is  that  all  you  remember 
of  your  infancy  ? " 

74 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       75 

"  I  still  remember  a  lady  who  was  always  with 
me,  who  often  kissed  me ;  no  doubt  she  was  my 
mother." 

"  Poor  woman  !  "  said  Marguerite  ;  "  perhaps 
she  is  still  living;  and  to  think  that  no  one 
knows.    But  away  with  sad  thoughts !  '* 

"Then  you'll  not.  regret  Paris,  my  dear 
,  Blanche,"    said    Urbain. 

"  Would  you  wish  me  to  regret  it,  dear,  when 
you  are  with  me  ?  " 

"  Those  dear  children ! "  said  the  old  servant 
rising  from  her  chair;  "it  is  Providence  which 
has  brought  them  together,  for  they  are  made 
for  one  another.  But  it's  nine  o'clock.  Monsieur 
Urbain,  you  must  go." 

"  Nine  o'clock  already !  The  time  is  approach- 
ing when  we  need  part  no  more,  but  the  days 
seem  very  long  now,  because  I  spend  them  away 
from  you." 

"  It's  the  same  with  me,  dear ;  it  seems  to  me 
that  evening  will  never  come." 

"  I  haven't  seen  M.  Touquet  for  some  days.** 

"And  you'll  not  see  him  this  evening,"  said 
Marguerite ;  "  he  received  a  letter  after  dinner. 
It  was  no  doubt  some  pressing  matter  of  business, 
for  he  left  immediately  and  has  not  yet  returned.** 

"  Good-by,  then,  dear  Blanche." 

"  Good-by,  my  dear." 

"Two  days  more.  It  seems  a  long  time  to 
wait 


76  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"You  have  managed  to  live  through  a  fort- 
night," said  Marguerite. 

"  Yes,  I  don't  know  why,  but  these  last  few 
days  seem  to  me  as  if  they  would  be  eternal." 

Urbain  could  not  tear  himself  away  from 
Blanche ;  his  heart  was  oppressed ;  the  eyes  of 
both  the  young  lovers  were  filled  with  tears ;  the 
young  girl  extended  her  hand  to  her  friend  and 
he  pressed  it  to  his  heart. 

"  I  don't  know  what's  the  matter  with  me," 
said  Blanche,  "  but  your  going  makes  me  sadder 
than  usual." 

"  What  childishness  !  "  said  Marguerite  ;  "  no 
one  would  suppose  that  you  were  going  to  meet 
within  two  days.  Isn't  M.  Urbain  coming  to- 
morrow evening  ?  Come,  come,  it's  time  to  go  to 
bed." 

The  lovers  again  said  good-by,  sighing  deeply, 
and  Urbain  finally  followed  Marguerite,  who 
shut  the  street  door  on  him  and  then  went  up- 
stairs to  Blanche  and  scolded  her  for  her  sadness. 
But  she  could  not  restore  her  gayety,  for  the 
dictates  of  reason  may  persuade  the  mind,  but 
cannot  allay  the  fears  of  the  heart. 

Not  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  Ur- 
bain's  departure  some  one  rapped  loudly  at  the 
street  door. 

"  That's  Urbain,  no  doubt,"  said  Blanche ;  "  he 
saw  that  I  was  sad  and  has  come  back  to  console 
me." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         77 

"That's  very  improbable,"  said  Marguerite; 
**  it's  more  likely  M.  Touquet  who  has  returned. 
However,  I  am  astonished  that  he  should  knock, 
for  I  thought  he  had  taken  his  master  key." 

"  Go  and  see  who  it  is,  dear  nurse." 

"  Yes,  yes,  mademoiselle ;  but  if  it  should  not 
be  monsieur?  It  is  late — we  are  alone  in  the 
house,  and  I  don't  know  if  I  ought  to  open  to 
any  one." 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  look  out  of  the  window, 
dear  nurse,  I  shall  very  soon  see  if  it's  Urbain.'* 

"  Yes,  do  so  ;  that  seems  to  me  mord  prudent." 

Blanche  had  already  opened  the  window,  and 
she  looked  down  into  the  street ;  the  night  was 
dark,  but  love  renders  the  sight  clear,  and  the 
young  girl  soon  saw  that  it  was  not  Urbain. 

"  Who  is  there,"  demanded  Marguerite,  thrust- 
ing out  her  head. 

A  deep  voice  answered,  "  I  come  from  Master 
Touquet,  he  has  charged  me  with  a  commission 
to  his  adopted  daughter.  Mademoiselle  Blanche." 

"  How  very  singular,"  said  Marguerite  to 
Blanche.  "  What !  monsieur,  who  has  hidden 
you  from  everybody's  sight,  sends  a  stranger  to 
us  at  this  hour  ? " 

"  But,  dear  nurse,  since  he  has  sent  him,  it  is 
necessary  to  open  to  this  gentleman.  Perhaps 
something  has  happened  to  my  protector." 

**  Is  the  man  alone,  my  child  ? " 

**  Yes,  dear  nurse,  I  see  nobody  but  him." 


78  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"Why  don't  you  open  the  door,"  cried  the 
man  in  the  street,  "  my  message  is  urgent." 

"  Wait  one  moment,  somebody  will  be  there. 
—  Remain  here,  my  child." 

Marguerite  went  down,  holding  her  lamp  in 
her  hand.  She  was  not  reassured,  but  opened  the 
door,  and  a  man  wrapped  in  a  large  cloak,  his 
head  covered  with  a  plumed  hat,  appeared  before 
her. 

"YouVe  been  very  slow,  my  good  woman," 
said  he,  smiling,  "however,  I'll  indemnify  you 
for  the  trouble  I  have  caused  you." 

While  saying  these  words,  he  slipped  several 
pieces  of  gold  into  Marguerite's  hand.  The  old 
woman  did  not  know  if  she  ought  to  accept  them, 
but  said  to  herself,  "  His  manners  are  not  those 
of  a  robber." 

The  stranger  quickly  entered  the  alleyway  and 
the  old  woman  as  she  looked  at  him  said  to  her- 
self, "  This  is  not  the  first  time  that  I  have  seen 
that  figure,  and  I  remember  his  voice.  Yes,  I  be- 
lieve that  that's  the  friend  my  master  was  waiting 
for  so  late  some  time  ago." 

Marguerite  was  not  deceived,  it  was  in  fact  the 
marquis  who  had  introduced  himself  into  the 
house,  having  first  sent  the  barber  a  letter  in 
which  he  gave  him  a  rendezvous  outside,  and  or- 
dered him  to  wait  there  until  ten  o'clock  in  the 
evening. 

"Monsieur  has  been  here  before,  I  believe," 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        79 

said  Marguerite,  reassured  on  recognizing  one 
whom  she  believed  to  be  her  master's  friend. 

"  Yes,  yes,  my  good  mother,  I  have  often  been 
here ;  but  hasten  to  lead  me  to  your  young 
mistress.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  I  should 
see  her." 

"  Is  my  master  ill  ?  —  has  he  been  involved  in 
some  quarrel  ?  Many  accidents  happen  in  this 
city. 

"  Don't  be  uneasy,  there's  nothing  of  that  kind." 

The  marquis  followed  Marguerite,  who  led 
him  to  Blanche's  chamber,  and  opened  the  door, 
saying,  — 

"  Mademoiselle,  here  is  a  gentleman  who  brings 
you  a  message  from  M.  Touquet." 

Blanche  took  some  steps  forward  to  meet  the 
stranger;  the  marquis  had  entered  abruptly,  but 
on  perceiving  the  young  girl  he  paused,  and  for 
some  moments  remained  motionless,  occupied  in 
contemplating  her.  There  was  something  in  the 
aspect  of  the  marquis  which  compelled  respect, 
and  while  at  that  moment  there  was  nothing  se- 
vere in  his  expression,  the  astonishment  and  admi- 
ration depicted  on  his  features  lent  additional 
animation  to  his  naturally  proud  and  noble  look. 
Blanche  involuntarily  lowered  her  eyes,  for  she 
could  not  meet  the  fixed  gaze  with  which  the 
marquis  seemed  to  examine  her  person,  and  Mar- 
guerite dared  not  utter  a  word,  because  the 
stranger  intimidated  her  also. 


8o  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  This  is  truly  beyond  all  that  I  could  have 
imagined,'*  said  the  marquis,  as  if  he  were  speak- 
ing to  himself. 

"  Monsieur,"  said  Blanche,  with  embarrass- 
ment, "  my  nurse  informs  me  that  you  have  some- 
thing to  say  to  me,  some  message  from  my 
benefactor ;  has  anything  happened  to  him,  mon- 
sieur ? " 

"  No,  lovely  Blanche,  no ;  your  benefactor,  since 
you  deign  to  so  call  him,  has  run  into  no  danger, 
but  I  would  brave  a  thousand  if  by  that  means 
I  could  make  you  take  the  same  interest  in  me." 

Blanche  glanced  timidly  at  the  marquis  as  if 
she  were  waiting  for  him  to  explain  himself  bet- 
ter ;  the  latter,  in  hastening  to  lead  her  to  a  chair, 
dropped  a  corner  of  his  mantle,  allowing  his  rich 
attire  to  be  seen,  and  Marguerite  said  under  her 
breath  to  the  young  girl,  — 

**  Mon  Dieu,  my  child,  look  at  those  precious 
stones,  that  lace,  this  is  at  least  a  great  nobleman." 

**  Oh,  yes,"  answered  Blanche,  in  the  same  tone, 
"  it  is  superb,  but  I  like  Urbain's  costume  much 
better." 

Villebelle,  who  had  not  taken  his  eyes  from 
Blanche,  remained  silent. 

"  Why  did  you  come  here  then,"  said  she,  see- 
ing that  he  was  contented  with  looking  at  her. 

**  Yes,"  said  Marguerite,  who  sought  to  resume 
her  ordinary  assurance,  "  for  you  must  have  come 
for  something." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        8i 

"  And  I  have  found  more  than  I  had  believed 
possible,"  said  the  marquis,  smiling.  Then,  with- 
out appearing  to  notice  the  embarrassment  which 
his  presence  caused,  he  approached  Blanche,  took 
her  hand,  and  cried,  — 

"You  in  this  retreat!  you  hidden  from  all 
eyes  1  —  when  you  should  be  the  ornament  of  the 
world  and  receive  the  homage  of  the  whole 
universe." 

"  Forgive  me,  monsieur,"  said  Blanche,  "  but 
I  don't  understand  you." 

"  I  don't  understand  you  either,"  murmured 
Marguerite,  fixing  her  small  eyes  on  the  marquis. 

"  Better  still,  adorable  girl,"  responded  the 
marquis  to  Blanche,  without  paying  the  least  at- 
tention to  Marguerite.  "  They  did  not  deceive 
me,  this  is  innocence  itself,  the  most  perfect  in- 
genuousness united  to  the  most  seductive  grace 
and  beauty." 

"  But,  monsieur,  was  that  what  M.  Touquet 
told  you  to  say  to  me  ? " 

"  No,  lovely  child,  not  at  all,"  said  the  marquis 
laughing,  and  still  retaining  Blanche's  hand,  which 
she  vainly  tried  to  disengage. 

"  It's  necessary  however  that  you  should  ex- 
plain yourself,"  said  Marguerite  in  a  dry  tone, 
"you  have  been  here  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour 
and  you  have  not  yet  said  why  you  came.  It  is 
very  late  and  we  are  accustomed  to  go  to  bed 
early." 

Vol.  VIII 


82  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Oh,  well,  old  woman,  go  to  your  bed ;  I  wiil 
remain  with  this  lovely  child  until  the  return  of 
Master  Touquet." 

"  Do  you  think  I  will  leave  you  alone  with  my 
dear  Blanche,"  cried  Marguerite,  rendered  still 
more  suspicious  by  the  word  old,  "  no,  monsieur, 
no,  I  take  better  care  of  her  than  that.  Your  laces, 
your  jewelry,  and  your  fine  appearance  do  not 
inspire  me  with  much  confidence.  Wait !  take 
back  your  pieces  of  gold,  I  don't  wish  them,  for  I 
begin  to  believe  that  your  intentions  are  not  good, 
and  Marguerite  will  never  second  the  plans  of  a 
seducer,  whether  duke  or  prince,  even  should  he 
offer  her  the  mines  of  Peru." 

The  marquis  replied  only  by  shrugging  his 
shoulders  without  turning  towards  Marguerite, 
then  he  seated  himself  near  Blanche  and  took  off 
his  hat  and  mantle,  establishing  himself  in  the 
room  like  one  who  is  not  disposed  to  go. 

Blanche  was  trembling,  confused ;  she  looked 
at  Marguerite  as  if  to  implore  her  not  to  abandon 
her,  and  the  old  woman,  whom  the  conduct  of  the 
stranger  had  filled  with  new  dread,  forced  herself 
to  appear  calm,  saying  in  a  voice  whose  faltering 
accents  betrayed  her  fright,  — 

"Be  easy,  my  child,  I  am  here,  I  will  not  leave 
you,  and  while  monsieur  does  not  appear  to  listen 
to  me  it  is,  above  all,  necessary  that  he  should 
tell  us  what  he  came  here  to  do." 

"  I  have  told  you,  my  good  woman,  I  am  wait- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK         83 

ing  for  Touquet.  I  must  speak  to  him  this  even- 
ing ;  that  is  very  important." 

"  And  just  now  you  said  that  it  was  he  who  had 
sent  you  ;  you  were  deceiving  us,  then  ?  " 

"  Perhaps,"  said  the  marquis,  laughing. 

"  Very  well,  monsieur,  if  you  are  really  waiting 
for  my  master,  come  into  the  lower  room.  I  will 
give  you  a  light,  and  you  will  find  a  fire  there." 

"  No,  indeed,  my  good  woman,  I  like  this  much 
better  than  your  lower  room ;  the  society  of  this 
charming  child  will  make  the  time  seem  very  short, 
and  surely,  adorable  Blanche,  you  will  not  be  cruel 
enough  to  refuse  to  keep  me  company." 

"  No,  monsieur,  if  you  desire  it,  if  it  will  amuse 
you,  I  must  wish  it  also." 

"  Yes,"  said  Marguerite,  "  it  seems  that  it  is 
necessary  that  we  should  do  monsieur's  will,  but 
patience  —  soon  I  hope  —  " 

At  this  moment  somebody  violently  shut  the 
street  door.  Blanche  started  joyfully,  and  Mar- 
guerite cried,  with  a  triumphant  air,  — 

"  Ah  !  here  is  my  master  !  We  shall  now  see 
whether  anyone  can  establish  himself  here  in  spite 
of  us." 

The  marquis  rose  without  answering,  took  his 
mantle,  put  his  hat  on  his  head,  kissed  Blanche's 
hand,  saying  to  her, — 

"  Au  revoir,  charming  girl,"  then  left  the  room 
saying  to  Marguerite,  — 

"  Light  me !  " 


84  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

All  this  had  happened  so  quickly  that  Blanche, 
who  was  greatly  astonished,  had  not  time  to  op- 
pose the  action  of  the  marquis,  and  the  old  ser- 
vant followed  the  great  nobleman,  saying, — 

"  O  mon  Dieu,  what  a  man  !  " 

The  barber  had  entered  and  was  taking  off  his 
mantle,  when  the  marquis,  followed  by  Marguerite, 
appeared  in  the  lower  room.  At  the  sight  of  Ville- 
belle,  Touquet  started  with  surprise,  saying, — 

"  What,  you  here,  monseigneur  1 " 

He  paused  and  Marguerite  cried, — 

**  Yes,  my  dear  master,  monseigneur  has  been 
here  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour.  He  presented 
himself  as  coming  from  you,  and  he  installed  him- 
self in  Mademoiselle  Blanche's  room." 

"In  Blanche's  room,"  said  the  barber,  appear- 
ing violently  agitated. 

"  Yes,  monsieur,  in  mademoiselle's  room  —  " 

"  That's  enough,  my  good  woman,  leave  us," 
said  the  marquis,  in  an  imperious  tone. 

"  Leave  you,"  answered  Marguerite,  "  oh,  it  is 
necessary  before  all  —  " 

"  It  is  necessary  to  obey,"  said  the  barber,  in  a 
gloomy  voice.    "  Go  1 " 

Marguerite  was  dumbfounded,  but  she  dared 
not  reply  and  left  them,  saying,  — ^ 

"  Well,  I  don't  understand  all  this,  this  man 
does  as  he  pleases  here,  it  troubles  me." 

"  Well,  dear  nurse,"  said  Blanche  to  the  old 
woman,  "  and  what  about  the  stranger  ? " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        85 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  who  that  man  can  be,  but 
M.  Touquet  is  as  submissive  as  a  child  before  him. 
I  left  them  together.  This  fine  gentleman  said  to 
me,  '  Go  1 '  and  it  was  necessary  to  obey  him/* 

"  That's  very  surprising,  dear  nurse." 

"  How  did  you  like  that  man  ? " 

"  Oh,  he  is  not  so  bad,  dear  nurse,  and  if  I  had 
not  been  a  little  afraid  of  him,  I  believe  I  should 
have  thought  him  very  agreeable." 

"  Ah,  mon  Dieu,  I  was  very  much  frightened ; 
he  has  something  satanic  in  his  looks." 

"  Oh,  dear  nurse,  you're  mistaken,  he  has  a  very 
fine  face,  features  which  inspire  respect,  and  which 
are  bland  at  the  same  time." 

"  Fie  !  for  shame  !  my  child,  to  admire  such  an 
impertinent  man.  Oh,  if  your  Urbain  could  hear 
you." 

"  But,  dear  nurse,  I  should  say  the  same  thing 
before  Urbain.  Is  it  not  necessary  to  tell  him  all 
that  I  think  ?  That  could  not  displease  him,  for 
he  knows  how  much  I  love  him." 

"  Come,  my  child,  it's  late,  go  to  bed.  I  am 
going,  too,  good-night." 

Marguerite  went  up  to  her  room,  saying  to  her- 
self, — 

"  Young  girls  will  always  be  young  girls.  The 
most  virtuous  of  them  will  allow  themselves  to  be 
favorably  impressed  by  fine  compliments,  a  hand- 
some face,  and  rich  clothing.  These  are  terrible 
talismans  with  the  women." 


86  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

When  Marguerite  had  left  the  lower  room,  the 
barber  shut  the  door.  His  manner  disclosed  a 
violent  agitation;  however, he  awaited  the  marquis* 
explanation,  and  the  latter  narrowly  watched  and 
appeared  to  enjoy  his  uneasiness. 

*  May  I  know,  monseigneur,"  said  Touquet  at 
last, "  how  it  is  that  you  are  at  my  house  when 
you  appointed  another  meeting  place  ?  " 

"  What,  Touquet,  don't  you  understand  it  ?  I 
made  a  distant  appointment  with  you  in  order  that 
I  might  represent  myself  as  sent  by  you  to  this 
young  girl,  whom  you  have  hidden  from  me  and 
whom  I  ardently  desired  to  see.  This  is  one  of 
the  little  tricks  which  you  yourself  formerly  taught 
me,  and  which  are  nearly  always  successful." 

The  barber  bit  his  lips,  but  did  not  answer. 

"  Well,  to  be  sure,"  resumed  the  marquis,  "  that 
you  should  possess  such  a  treasure,  an  angel  of 
beauty  and  grace,  and  hide  her  from  me,  your  old 
master !  From  me,  when  you  know  my  partiality 
for  the  sex  which  has  led  me  to  commit  so  many 
follies." 

**  It  was  precisely  because  of  that  partiality,  mon- 
sieur le  marquis,  that  I  hoped  to  shield  Blanche 
from  your  notice ;  I  am  interested  in  that  young 
girl,  to  whom  I  stand  in  the  place  of  her  parents. 
I  know  the  impetuosity  of  your  passions,  and  I 
don't  think  the  honor  of  being  your  mistress  for 
a  fortnight  will  assure  the  child's  happiness." 

"  And  how  long,  clown,  have  you  made  similar 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        87 

reflections,"  said  the  marquis,  looking  witheringly 
at  the  barber.  "  After  lending  aid  in  all  my  in- 
trigues, after  leading  me  to  commit  actions  which, 
but  for  you,  I  should  never  have  thought  of, 
should  you  allow  yourself  to  control  my  morals 
and  enact  the  knight  errant  of  the  beauties  I  deign 
to  distinguish." 

"  Monseigneur ! " 

"  Remember  that  though  your  hypocrisy  and 
lies  may  serve  you  sometimes,  they  can  never  de- 
ceive me.  It  is  not  from  me  only  that  you  hide 
this  young  girl,  for  you  hold  her  a  prisoner  in  her 
chamber  and  do  not  permit  her  to  go  out.  It  is 
not  because  you  are  in  love  with  Blanche,  since 
you  are  about  to  give  her  in  marriage ;  besides, 
love  is  a  feeling  unknown  to  you ;  your  heart 
knows  nothing  but  a  thirst  for  gold.  There  is  in 
all  this  some  mystery  which  I  must  discover." 

Touquet  became  pale  and  trembling,  and  mur- 
mured, lowering  his  eyes,  — 

"  I  swear  to  you,  monsieur  le  marquis  —  " 

**  Make  an  end  of  this,"  said  Villebelle,  inter- 
rupting him.  "  Listen  to  me.  I  love,  what  do  I 
say,  I  adore  this  young  girl  whom  I  have  seen 
only  for  a  moment ;  for  a  very  long  time  I  have 
not  experienced  sensations  similar  to  those  I  felt 
in  her  presence.  This  is  not  a  passing  caprice ; 
these  are  not  desires  to  which  the  heart  is  a 
stranger.  No,  on  seeing  Blanche  I  felt  moved, 
uneasy,  softened.    I  cannot  define  all  that  passed 


88  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

within  me.  It  seemed  to  me  that  I  recognized 
that  lovely  child — that  my  love  for  her  had  existed 
for  a  long  time.  After  that  you  must  divine  that 
it  is  impossible  henceforth  to  live  without  her. 
Blanche  must  be  mine ;  I  am  capable  of  every 
sacrifice  in  order  to  arrive  at  that  end." 

"Ah,  monsieur,  that  is  what  I  feared,"  said 
Touquet,  who  appeared  to  be  really  grieved  at 
what  he  heard.  "  You  wish  to  make  Blanche  your 
mistress !  ** 

"  I  wish  to  make  her  happiness ;  I  feel  that  my 
love  for  her  will  be  lifelong." 

"  That  is  impossible,  monseigneur.  Blanche  is 
about  to  be  married  to  a  young  man  whom  she 
loves.  You  must  see  that  your  love  cannot  render 
her  happy." 

For  some  moments  the  marquis  walked  up  and 
down  the  room,  then  he  cried  passionately, — 

"  I  repeat  to  you,  Blanche  must  be  mine  —  it 
must  be  so.  I  will  leave  no  means  unemployed 
to  attain  this  end.  She  cannot  yet  love  her  des- 
tined husband ;  she  has  only  known  him  for  a 
few  days." 

"  Monseigneur,  who  has  informed  you  as  to  all 
this  ?  " 

"  What  does  that  matter  to  you  ?  That  love  is 
but  a  passing  sentiment  and  I  shall  know  how 
to  make  her  forget  it  by  overwhelming  her  with 
presents,  with  jewels,  and  by  seeking  to  invent 
new  pleasures  to  make  each  day  delightful  to  her." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        89 

"  Monseigneur,  Blanche  is  accustomed  to  retire- 
ment ;  she  is  not  a  coquette ;  your  ornaments, 
your  gifts  will  have  no  effect  upon  her." 

**  Enough  of  this,**  said  the  marquis,  "  your 
objections  weary  me ;  I  have  now  some  orders  to 
give  you.  I  wish  you  to  give  me  Blanche,  on 
whom  I  swear  to  settle  an  independent  fortune. 
Such  a  treasure  I  feel  is  worthy  of  a  great  price. 
Wait,  here  are  six  thousand  crowns  in  notes  and 
gold.  You  shall  have  as  much  more  when  you 
have  fulfilled  my  commands.'* 

The  barber  eyed  with  avaricious  looks  the 
money  which  the  marquis  had  spread  upon  the 
table  ;  then  he  turned  his  eyes  away,  saying  in  a 
gloomy  voice,  — 

"  Gold !  yes,  it  is  always  that  which  draws  me 
on;  but  this  time — no,  I  cannot.  Remember, 
monseigneur,  that  within  two  days  Blanche  should 
be  united  to  her  lover.'* 

"Then  at  once,  tonight  even,  it  is  necessary 
that  she  be  given  into  my  hands." 

The  barber  appeared  to  be  weighing  the  propo- 
sition in  his  mind ;  from  time  to  time  he  looked 
at  the  money  on  the  table,  and,  finally,  speaking 
with  a  great  effort,  he  said,  — 

"  It  cannot  be,  monseigneur,  I  am  extremely 
grieved  to  have  to  disappoint  you,  but  matters  are 
too  far  advanced." 

The  marquis  drew  near  Touquet,  and  grasping 
him  tightly  by  the  arm,  said  in  a  low  tone,  — 


90  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  It  will,  then,  be  necessary  that  I  beg  my  uncle, 
the  grand  provost,  to  cause  a  new  inquiry  to  be 
held  in  regard  to  the  murder  of  Blanche's  father. 
Do  you  think,  scoundrel,  that  I  do  not  partly 
divine  the  cause  which  has  induced  you  to  keep 
this  young  girl  so  carefully  hidden  from  every- 
body's sight?  Her  beauty  would  be  remarked, 
and  could  not  fail  to  draw  a  throng  of  admirers 
who  would  have  much  to  say  of  Blanche,  and  in 
seeking  to  learn  who  she  is  and  what  family  she 
belongs  to  they  would  obtain  new  facts  about  that 
unfortunate  traveller  who  was  murdered  on  the 
evening  of  his  arrival  in  Paris.  They  would  make 
reflections  on  the  fortune  which  came  to  you,  no- 
body knows  how,  some  time  after  that  event." 

"  Monseigneur,"  said  the  barber,  whose  face 
had  become  livid,  while  a  convulsive  trembling 
seized  his  limbs ;  "  monseigneur,  what  do  you 
say  ?    Could  you  believe  it  of  me  ?  " 

"  I  believe  nothing  yet,  but  tomorrow  I  shall 
urge  the  magistrates  to  make  an  effort  to  pierce 
this  mystery." 

"  Monseigneur,  you  shall  have  Blanche,"  said 
Touquet  dropping  into  a  chair  as  though  he  were 
perfectly  helpless. 

The  marquis  smiled  triumphantly  and  seemed 
to  forget  all  but  his  love.  Touquet  who  had  been 
thrown  into  a  state  of  the  deepest  depression  and 
consternation,  remained  for  some  minutes  without 
daring  to  raise  his  eyes,  and  unable  to  resume  his 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        91 

ordinary  expression.    Finally,  he  rose  and  mur- 
mured, in  a  broken  voice, — 

"  Believe  me,  monsieur  le  marquis,  that  it  is  not 
the  suspicions  you  have  conceived  which  determine 
me  to  obey  you  —  my  devotion  alone — " 

"  Enough,"  said  the  marquis  interrupting  him  ; 
"  not  another  word  about  that.  I  am  quite  wiUing 
to  believe  that  appearances  are  deceitful.  We  will 
occupy  ourselves  only  with  my  love.  I  don't  wish 
to  lose  a  single  instant  in  obtaining  possession  of 
Blanche,  and,  since  you  tell  me  that  in  two  days 
she  was  to  have  been  married,  it  is  necessary  that 
she  should  leave  this  house  tonight." 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  said  Touquet,  "  since  she 
is  to  go  the  sooner  the  better.  But  how  can  it  be 
done  tonight  ? " 

"  I  don't  recognize  you,  Touquet ;  you  see 
nothing  but  obstacles,  as  for  me,  I  don't  know  of 
any.  It  is  not  yet  midnight,  we  have  some  time 
remaining.  I'll  go  to  my  hotel  and  send  Germain, 
my  valet  de  chambre,  to  get  a  carriage  —  and  to  go 
only  as  far  as  my  little  house." 

"  Monseigneur,  you  must  not  take  Blanche 
there ;  she  would  not  be  safe ;  the  place  is  too 
near  Paris.  Urbain  Dorgeville,  the  person  she 
was  to  marry,  will  make  every  effort  to  discover 
her.  The  young  man  adores  her ;  he  is  enter- 
prising; you  have  everything  to  fear  from  his 
despair." 

"  I  fear  nobody,  and  you  know  it.   However,  I 


92  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

think  your  advice  is  wise.  Blanche  is  so  pretty ; 
I  already  feel  jealous  of  a  glance  given  by  her  to 
another,  and  a  good  many  giddy  fellows  know  my 
little  house.  But  wait,  wait,  I  have  just  what  will 
suit  me  ;  amongst  all  the  property  that  came  to 
me  from  my  mother  is  a  chateau  situated  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Grandvilliers,  about  twenty-two 
leagues  from  here,  and  far  enough  from  the  town 
and  the  highway  to  avoid  the  notice  of  travellers." 
"  Very  well,  monsieur,  that  will  suit  perfectly." 
"  I  have  only  once  visited  this  chateau,  which 
is  called  Sarcus,  but  although  I  only  made  a  short 
stay  there,  I  was  greatly  struck  by  the  elegance  of 
the  beautiful  estate.  The  chateau,  built  in  1522, 
was  given  to  Mademoiselle  de  Sarcus  by  Francis 
the  First,  and  in  the  neighborhood  is  noted  for  the 
marvellous  beauty  of  its  architecture,  and  especially 
of  its  fa9ade,  in  which  the  artist  excelled  all  his  pre- 
vious works.  That  is  the  place  to  which  I  shall 
take,  or  rather,  to  which  I  shall  have  Blanche  taken. 
Twenty-eight  leagues  —  two  trusty  men  —  she 
will  be  at  the  chateau  in  ten  hours  or  so.  As  for 
myself,  after  tomorrow  I  shall  arrange  my  affairs, 
and  pretending  at  court  that  I  am  obliged  to  go 
to  England,  I  shall  repair  secretly  to  Sarcus  to 
her  whom  I  never  more  wish  to  leave.  You  see, 
Touquet,  my  plan  is  perfect  and  no  one  will  sus- 
pect that  I  have  abducted  the  young  orphan." 

"  Yes,  monseigneur,  no  one  among  your  bril- 
liant  acquaintances;    but   how   shall   we  induce 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        93 

Blanche  to  go  with  you  quietly  and  prevent  a 
noise  and  cries  which  will  attract  the  attention  of 
the  neighbors  ?  " 

"Oh,  hang  it!  it  will  be  necessary  to  mislead  her 
at  first — that's  your  look  out.  Is  your  invention 
so  sterile  that  you  can  think  of  nothing  to  deceive 
a  mere  child.  You  can  make  her  believe  that  she 
is  going  to  rejoin  her  future  husband." 

"Wait,  monseigneur,  I've  thought  of  a  way, 
but  Blanche  mustn't  see  you.  She  would  suspect 
something,  and  my  stratagem  would  fail." 

**  I  repeat  to  you  she  will  start  alone  —  a  pos- 
tilion and  two  well-armed  men  behind  the  carriage 
will  answer  to  me  for  her  safety." 

"  That  is  all  that  is  necessary." 

"  It  is  midnight.  I'll  go  and  settle  everything. 
My  valet  de  chambre  shall  start  before  at  full 
speed,  that  he  may  give  my  orders  at  the  chateau 
and  that  he  may  be  there  to  receive  our  beautiful 
girl ;  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  shall  be  at 
your  door  with  a  coach ;  you  understand  me,  at 
two  o'clock." 

**Yes,  monsieur  le  marquis,"  said  the  barber, 
"  I  will  not  forget  the  hour.'* 

**  Manage  so  as  to  have  Blanche  ready  to  get 
into  the  carriage.  I  leave  it  to  you.  Do  not  try 
to  evade  your  promise  or  my  vengeance  will  be 
terrible." 

"You  may  rely  on  me,  monseigneur." 

The  marquis  wrapped  himself  in  his  mantle  and 


94  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

hastily  left  the  barber's  shop.  Touquet  remained 
alone  for  some  time,  thoughtful  and  depressed  ;  at 
length  he  rose  abruptly. 

"  What  does  it  matter  after  all,"  said  he, 
"whether  Blanche  be  with  Urbain  or  the  mar- 
quis ?  Shall  I  be  foolish  enough  to  sympathize 
with  the  love  of  two  children?  In  keeping  this 
young  girl  with  me  I  hoped  to  avoid  all  suspicion. 
But  at  last  I  shall  be  relieved  of  the  burden  that 
oppresses  me.  Come  let's  put  up  this  gold ;  the 
marquis  has  promised  me  as  much  more  —  and  I 
would  have  refused  him.  No.  My  destiny  must 
be  accomplished ;  this  metal  has  always  served  as 
its  compass.  I  was  only  sixteen  years  old  when 
it  caused  me  to  commit  actions  which  drew  down 
upon  me  my  father's  curse;  arrived  in  Paris, 
which  I  had  yearned  to  know,  I  soon  found  my- 
self robbed  of  everything  I  possessed  by  people 
who  were  more  adroit  than  myself;  I  had  been 
deceived  and  I  wished  to  make  others  suffer  as  I 
had  suffered.  I  gave  scope  to  my  talents.  Up  to 
that  time  I  had  done  no  great  wrong  —  but  this 
cursed  thirst  for  gold.  Ten  years  have  passed 
and  have  not  effaced  from  my  memory  that 
horrible  night  —  when  —  since  then  I  have  not 
tasted  a  moment's  peace.  I  will  return  to  my 
birthplace  and  if  my  father  is  still  alive  I  will  try 
to  obtain  his  pardon ;  perhaps  then  I  may  regain 
quiet  of  mind.  But  if  he  knew  how  I  enriched 
myself." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        95 

The  barber  again  gave  himself  to  his  reflections. 
Soon  Saint-Eustache's  clock  struck  one.  Touquet 
slowly  took  the  money  from  the  table,  and,  after 
locking  it  in  his  room  upstairs,  he  went  to  Blanche's 
chamber  and  knocked  at  the  door. 

The  poor  little  girl  was  not  asleep;  she  had  been 
too  greatly  excited  by  the  events  of  the  evening. 
She  still  seemed  to  see  the  stranger  seated  near 
her,  holding  her  hand  and  looking  at  her  with  an 
expression  that  she  could  not  define.  She  felt  op- 
pressed ;  it  seemed  to  her  that  she  should  never 
see  Urbain  more.  The  marquis'  figure  appeared 
constantly  between  herself  and  Urbain,  and  the 
sadness  the  latter  had  felt  on  leaving  her  height- 
ened her  own  premonitions.  Yielding  to  this  in- 
definite anxiety,  often  harder  to  bear  than  a  real 
sorrow,  Blanche  could  not  rest,  and  the  sound  of 
a  knock  at  her  door  in  the  middle  of  the  night 
awoke  in  her  fresh  terror. 

"  Who  is  there  ?  "  she  cried,  in  a  faltering  voice. 

"  It  is  I,  Blanche,"  answered  the  barber  ;  "open 
the  door.  I  have  something  of  importance  to  tell 
you. 

The  young  girl,  who  had  recognized  Touquet's 
voice,  rose,  hastily  put  on  a  dressing  gown,  and 
opened  the  door.  The  barber  held  the  lamp  in 
his  hand  and  avoided  looking  at  the  young  girl, 
who,  on  the  contrary,  wished  to  question  him  and 
said,  — 

" Mercy,  my  good  friend,  what  has  happened?" 


96  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

These  words,  "  my  good  friend,"  uttered  in 
Blanche's  sweet  voice,  always  agitated  Touquet ; 
he  forced  himself  to  hide  his  feeHngs. 

"  Calm  yourself,  Blanche,"  he  said,  "  and  listen 
to  me;  Urbain  has  had  a  quarrel  tonight — a 
duel." 

"  O  heavens !   He  is  wounded !  " 

**  No,  no,  nothing  has  happened  to  him,  but  it 
was  necessary  to  his  safety  that  he  should  leave 
Paris  immediately ;  had  he  not  done  so  they  would 
have  arrested  him ;  he  therefore  left  for  the  coun- 
try. 

"  He  left  without  me  ?  " 

"  Let  me  finish ;  you  should  have  been  mar- 
ried here,  in  place  of  which  you  will  be  married 
at  his  house ;  but  to  quiet  Urbain's  anxiety  I  had 
to  promise  that  tonight  you  should  rejoin  him." 

"  Oh,  at  once,  my  friend,  as  soon  as  you  please ; 
but  why  did  he  not  take  me  with  him  ? " 

"  That  was  impossible  ;  Urbain  had  not  an  in- 
stant to  lose ;  by  a  lucky  chance,  one  of  my 
friends  is  sending  his  valet  into  the  country  to 
find  a  wife.  The  carriage  will  come  to  take  you 
in  an  hour.  Get  ready,  therefore.  He  will  charge 
you  nothing  and  you  will  find  everything  down 
there  that  you  need  —  do  you  understand  me  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  shall  be  ready  in  a  moment,  and  what 
about  Marguerite  ? " 

**  She  can  follow  you  later ;  I  need  her  to  make 
divers  arrangements.   In  a  few  days  I  shall  come 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        97 

to  see  you.  I'll  leave  you  now;  make  your  prep- 
arations. I  shall  come  for  you  when  the  carriage 
arrives." 

The  barber  departed,  and  Blanche,  who  had  not 
the  slightest  suspicion  that  anyone  would  deceive 
her,  continued  her  toilet. 

"  Poor  Urbain,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  I  was  sure 
that  something  would  happen  to  him  ;  and  he, 
also,  had  a  presentiment.  How  fortunate  that  he 
was  able  to  escape ;  but  I  shall  rejoin  him  and  I 
shall  nevermore  leave  him." 

During  this  time  Touquet  had  returned  to  his 
room,  saying  to  himself,  — 

**  Everything  is  going  well  —  the  little  one  will 
start  without  making  the  least  difficulty.  But  if 
Marguerite  is  not  asleep  ;  if  she  should  have  heard 
some  words  of  my  conversation  with  the  marquis 
and  if  she  wishes  to  follow  Blanche.  It  is  impor- 
tant that  the  old  woman  should  know  nothing  — 
it  is  easy  to  assure  myself  she  is  sleeping,  since 
she  now  sleeps  in  the  room  occupied  by  Blanche's 
father.     Come,  I  mustn't  be  weak.     I'll  go  up." 

The  barber  took  his  light,  and  directed  his  steps 
towards  a  closet  which  was  at  the  end  of  his  room. 
"When  he  reached  it  he  still  hesitated ;  then,  mak- 
ing an  effort  to  command  himself,  he  touched  a 
button  hidden  by  the  hangings,  and  a  small  door 
opened  and  discovered  a  small  and  very  narrow 
staircase  which  led  to  the  floor  above.  Touquet 
turned  his  eyes,  murmuring,  — 

Vol.  VIII 


98  THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Since  that  fatal  night  I  have  not  been  in  this 
passage." 

He  mounted  the  stairs,  his  wild  eyes  seeming 
to  fear  that  they  would  meet  some  frightful  ob- 
ject, the  hand  in  which  he  held  the  lamp  trem- 
bling, while  with  the  other  he  held  to  the  wall  to 
steady  his  tottering  steps. 

At  the  top  of  the  staircase  was  a  door  closed 
by  two  bolts,  which  he  withdrew  with  as  little 
noise  as  possible,  and  entered  the  little  dark  closet 
at  the  back  of  Marguerite's  alcove,  which  the  old 
nurse  and  Blanche  had  entered  without  perceiv- 
ing the  door  on  the  staircase,  because  it  was  ar- 
tistically hidden  in  the  woodwork.  The  barber 
placed  his  lamp  on  the  floor,  and  put  his  ear  to 
the  door  which  led  into  the  alcove ;  he  soon  heard 
a  prolonged  snore,  which  announced  that  Marguer- 
ite was  sleeping  soundly;  however,  he  softly 
opened  the  door  so  as  to  thoroughly  assure  him- 
self of  the  fact ;  then  he  reentered  the  little  room 
and  left  by  the  secret  door,  drew  the  bolts  and 
went  down,  saying,  — 

**  There  is  nothing  to  fear  from  her." 

Suddenly  the  barber  made  a  false  step,  he  low- 
ered his  lamp  and  perceived  some  reddish  stains 
on  the  staircase.  Although  it  was  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish what  had  produced  these  stains,  Touquet 
recoiled  with  horror,  his  hair  stood  up  on  his  head, 
his  feet  refused  to  carry  him  over  the  steps  on 
which  were  imprinted  the  marks  which  caused  his 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK  ^g 

fear ;  in  his  agitation  he  allowed  the  lamp  to  fall 
from  his  hands ;  it  rolled  and  was  extinguished. 
The  barber  was  left  in  the  most  profound  dark- 
ness in  the  secret  passage.  Showing  every  sign 
of  the  most  ungovernable  terror,  he  ran  as  fast  as 
possible  down  the  stairs,  bumping  his  head  against 
the  wall,  falling  and  crawling  on  the  stairs. 

"  Mercy  !  mercy !  "  he  cried,  in  a  suffocating 
voice,  "  do  not  pursue  me.  Is  it  because  I  am  giv- 
ing up  your  daughter  that  you  come  anew  to  tor- 
ment me  ?  Well,  I  won't  give  her  to  the  mar- 
quis. No,  but  leave  me.  Don't  touch  me  with 
your  bloody  hands." 

At  length  he  came  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs  ;  he 
reclosed  the  door  hidden  by  the  hangings  and 
without  pausing  in  his  room,  where  he  had  no 
light,  he  went  down  into  the  lower  room,  which 
was  lit  by  one  lamp  and  by  the  fire  which  still 
burned  on  the  hearth. 

He  threw  himself  upon  a  seat,  and  looked 
wildly  about  him,  gradually  becoming  more  as- 
sured ;  finally,  he  passed  his  hand  over  his  brow 
saying,  — 

"It  was  a  dream." 

At  that  moment  he  heard  the  sound  of  a  car- 
riage, which  stopped  in  front  of  the  house,  and 
having  entirely  recovered  his  wits  he  went  to  open 
the  street  door. 

"  Here  I  am,"  said  the  marquis,  alighting  from 
the  travelling  carriage.   "  I  have  come  even  sooner 


loo         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

than  I  promised.  My  valet  de  chambre  is  already 
on  the  way  to  Grandvilliers.  The  postilion  is  in 
the  saddle,  these  two  efficiently  armed  men  will 
follow  the  coach,  all  is  ready  ;  and  Blanche?'* 

"  I  will  go  and  get  her ;  she  believes  that  she  is 
going  to  rejoin  her  future  husband  who  has  been 
wounded  tonight  in  a  duel;  she  has  not  the 
slightest  suspicion  that  there  is  any  trickery,  and 
goes  of  her  own  free  will.'* 

"  That's  excellent !  " 

**  But  hide  yourself,  monseigneur,  that  she  may 
not  perceive  you,  or  all  will  be  lost." 

'•  Fear  nothing ;  I  will  ensconce  myself  in  the 
angle  of  this  doorway  —  I  only  wish  to  see  her 
enter  the  carriage  —  tomorrow  I  shall  be  at  Sarcus, 
and  I  shall  dry  her  tears.'* 

"  I  will  go  and  fetch  her.*' 

The  barber  went  up  to  call  Blanche,  who  had 
heard  the  carriage  and  was  ready. 

"  I  am  here,  my  good  friend,"  said  she,  hastily 
leaving  her  room,  "  I  knew  the  carriage  had 
come." 

Touquet  walked  first,  and  Blanche  followed; 
her  heart  was  palpitating  and,  although  she 
thought  she  was  going  to  rejoin  Urbain,  this 
departure  in  the  middle  of  the  night  had  about  it 
something  mysterious,  singular,  which  almost 
frightened  her.  When  they  had  reached  the 
lower  room  the  sweet  girl  glanced  around  her, 
saying,— 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       loi 

"  What !  has  not  Marguerite  come  to  bid  me 
good-by  and  kiss  me  ? " 

"  No,  no,  we  haven't  time  for  that,"  said  Tou- 
quet  taking  her  hand  and  leading  her  into  the 
passage.  When  they  reached  the  front  door  the 
barber  put  out  his  head  to  assure  himself  that 
the  marquis  was  not  within  sight,  then  he  opened 
the  carriage  door. 

"  Come  quickly,"  said  he  to  Blanche,  "  get  in ; 
don't  lose  any  time." 

Blanche  darted  into  the  street  and  stepped  into 
the  vehicle ;  her  heart  grew  heavy  as  she  found 
herself  alone  in  it  in  the  darkness  of  the  night; 
but  Touquet  had  already  closed  the  door. 

"  Good-by,  my  dear  friend,"  she  said  to  him, 
"  I  am  going  to  rejoin  Urbain,  but  I  shall  never 
forget  you.  All  you  have  done  for  me  is  graven 
on  my  heart  by  gratitude." 

"  Go  on,  go  on,  postilion,"  cried  the  barber,  in 
a  voice  faltering  with  the  emotions  he  experienced. 
At  this  moment  two  o'clock  struck,  the  postilion 
cracked  his  whip,  and  the  carriage  which  held 
Blanche  started. 

"  She  is  mine ! "  cried  the  marquis,  and  the 
barber  hastily  reentered  his  dwelling. 


CHAPTER  VI 

The  Rendezvous.    Strokes  of  Fortune.    The 
Hotel  de  Bourgogne.    The  Sedan  Chair 

On  taking  his  departure  from  the  marquis'  lit- 
tle house  in  the  Faubourg  Saint-Antoine,  at  day- 
break, the  Chevalier  Chaudoreille  did  not  feel 
entirely  reassured  as  to  the  outcome  of  his  duel 
with  Turlupin,  whom  he  believed  to  be  a  great 
personage  ;  and  whom,  incredible  as  it  may  seem, 
he  firmly  believed  he  had  slain ;  however,  the 
idea  that  he  was  now  the  confidential  agent  of  one 
so  powerful  as  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle,  which 
gave  him  the  right  to  claim  that  nobleman's  pro- 
tection if  it  should  be  necessary  to  him,  gave  him 
the  courage  to  return  to  Paris,  where  he  summed 
up  the  events  of  the  preceding  night  and  their 
probable  consequences.  The  marquis  had  prom- 
ised him  a  hundred  pistoles  if  Blanche  should 
happen  to  please  him,  and  Chaudoreille  was  con- 
fident that  he  should  have  that  sum ;  but  should 
Touquet  discover  that  it  was  through  him  that 
the  marquis  had  learned  of  Blanche's  existence, 
he  would  have  everything  to  fear  from  the  bar- 
ber's anger.  However,  he  did  not  forget  his  ren- 
dezvous for  the  evening. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      103 

Forcing  himself  to  banish  all  thoughts  of  the  bar- 
ber, and  chinking  the  crowns  which  he  had  won 
from  Marcel,  he  went  into  a  wine  shop,  where  he 
passed  a  great  part  of  the  day  trying  to  obtain  cour- 
age by  emptying  several  bottles  of  wine.  Towards 
evening  he  felt  more  enterprising,  and  returned  to 
his  lodging  to  iron  out  his  ruff,  renovate  his  com- 
plexion, dye  his  mustache  and  imperial,  dust  his 
shoes,  and  brush  his  hat ;  he  then  set  out  for  his 
rendezvous,  saying, — 

"  Though  she  should  possess  the  grace  of  a 
princess,  I  must  not  forget  that  I  have  to  return 
this  evening  to  the  Faubourg  Saint-Antoine,  in 
order  to  receive  a  hundred  pistoles  from  the 
marquis.  Zounds  !  for  a  hundred  pistoles  I  would 
leave  the  Sultan's  favorite  and  all  the  odalisks  of 
the  Grand  Turk." 

The  day  was  waning ;  for  the  last  half  hour 
Chaudoreille  had  been  strolling  in  the  neighbor- 
hood where  the  old  woman  had  accosted  him  the 
evening  before,  looking  up  at  all  the  windows, 
having  first  carefully  assured  himself  that  the 
water  carrier  was  not  to  be  seen.  Finally,  the  ser- 
vant who  had  spoken  to  him  previously  issued 
from  a  respectable-looking  house,  and,  as  she 
passed  near  him,  said  in  a  whisper, — 

"  Follow  me,  but  do  not  appear  to  be  with  me." 

"Very  well,  Marton,"  answered  Chaudoreille; 
and  he  followed  on  the  heels  of  the  old  woman, 
so  as  not  to  lose  her  from  sight. 


I04         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

They  entered  the  house  ;  the  servant  mounted 
the  stairs,  put  her  finger  on  her  lips  and  signed 
to  Chaudoreille  to  follow  her.  The  chevalier  did 
so,  but  all  of  a  sudden  he  seized  the  old  woman's 
petticoat  and  stopped  her,  saying,  — 

"  Is  your  mistress  married  ?  " 

"  Why  ? "  asked  the  old  woman,  looking  at 
him  mockingly. 

"  Why !  by  jingo  !  because  some  husbands 
have  very  little  patience  in  an  affair  of  this  kind. 
Hang  it !  a  stroke  of  the  sword  is  soon  given,  and 
I  can't  throw  myself  thus  into  the  wolPs  den." 

**  Are  you  not  armed,  monsieur  ?  and  if  any- 
one should  attack  you,  can  you  not  defend  your- 
self?" 

"Yes,  I  know  how  to  defend  myself,"  said 
Chaudoreille,  going  down  some  stairs,  "but  I 
have  an  infinite  respect  for  the  marriage  vow,  and, 
taking  everything  into  consideration,  I  should  pre- 
fer to  take  myself  off. " 

"  Come  I  tell  you,  monsieur,"  said  the  domes- 
tic running  after  him,  "my  mistress  is  not  mar- 
ried, and  you  have  nothing  to  fear." 

"  Well,  by  jingo !  You  should  explain  your- 
self, my  good  woman.  My  life  is  too  precious 
for  me  to  expose  it  with  temerity.  Come,  Lisette, 
go  up !  I  will  follow  you,  but  if  you  have  lied 
to  me,  tremble  !  " 

The  old  woman  paused  on  the  second  landing ; 
she  opened  a  door  and  took  Chaudoreille  into  a 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      105 

pretty  dining-room  and  from  thence  into  a  small 
well-furnished  parlor,  where  she  left  him,  say- 
ing,— 

"  Wait  here,  I  will  go  and  tell  madame." 

"  Do  not  be  long,  for  I  am  not  fond  of  wait- 
ing," cried  he,  looking  around  him  anxiously. 

Left  alone  he  examined  the  apartment  curi- 
ously, saying,  — 

"  It  is  pretty  enough,  it  is  all  in  very  good 
taste;  this  is  a  woman  of  distinction.  Come, 
Chaudoreille,  you're  in  great  luck.  Don't  act 
like  a  novice,  but  show  some  self-possession. 
Everything  has  come  to  me  at  once;  fortune  — 
money  —  love  —  I  am  sure  that  I  shall  finish  by 
making  my  way.  Oh,  the  deuce !  here's  a  hole 
in  my  doublet !  But  I  must  pull  my  hat  up  in 
front,  it  will  hinder  me  from  seeing  my  princess ; 
I  feel  in  advance  that  I  can  adore  her.  But  it's 
dark  and  they  have  left  me  without  a  light,  that's 
very  singular.  My  heart  beats,  this  is  certainly 
love." 

Here  Chaudoreille  raised  his  voice,  saying, — 

"  Besides,  if  anyone  should  dare  to  rub  against 
me,  Rolande  has  an  edge  and  four  men  could  not 
frighten  me." 

At  this  moment  the  door  creaked  and  opened 
behind  Chaudoreille,  who  started  back  against  a 
table,  overturning  several  porcelain  cups,  as  he 
exclaimed,  — 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  " 


io6         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  It's  me,  monsieur,"  answered  the  servant. 
"  I  came  to  conduct  you  to  madame." 

"  Oh  !  that's  right ;  but  you  left  me  without  a 
light  and  I  mistook  you  for  a  rat,  of  which  I  have 
a  great  horror.  I  would  much  rather  fight  with 
a  lion  than  see  only  the  tail  of  one  of  these  little 
animals,  but  show  me  the  way,  my  good  woman." 

The  servant  led  him  through  another  room  and 
opened  a  door  into  a  handsome  boudoir  lighted 
by  many  candles ;  a  young  woman  was  seated  on 
a  sofa  at  the  end  of  the  room.  The  old  woman 
retired.  Chaudoreille,  very  uneasy  in  this  tete-a- 
tete,  to  which  he  had  looked  forward,  dared  not 
look  at  the  person  with  whom  he  found  himself, 
and  racked  his  imagination  to  find  a  compliment 
suitable  for  the  occasion  ;  but  his  Phoebus  was 
stubborn,  and  nothing  had  occurred  to  him  when 
he  heard  these  words,  — 

"  Will  not  Monsieur  Chaudoreille  speak  to  his 
old  acquaintances  ? " 

Struck  by  the  voice,  the  little  man  raised  his 
eyes  and  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise  on 
recognizing  Julia,  the  young  Italian,  who  looked 
smilingly  at  him. 

"  Can  it  be  ?  Is  it  indeed  you  whom  I  see  ?  " 
said  Chaudoreille. 

"And  what  do  you  find  so  extraordinary  in 
that,  monsieur  le  chevalier  ?  Did  you  think  that 
the  marquis  would  always  leave  me  in  his  little 
house  ? " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       107 

"  No  —  undoubtedly  not,  beautiful  lady  —  I  do 
not  know  —  but  I  was  so  far  from  expecting  to 
see  you,"  and  he  glanced  tenderly  at  her,  saying 
to  himself:  "  I  always  thought  that  she  loved  me, 
behold  me  now  the  rival  of  a  marquis ;  it's  a  tre- 
mendously ticklish  position." 

"  Be  seated.  Monsieur  Chaudoreille,"  said  Julia, 
who  appeared  for  some  moments  very  much 
amused  by  the  embarrassment  and  the  oglings  of 
the  little  man.  The  latter,  however,  resumed  his 
audacity,  and  was  about  to  seat  himself  on  the  sofa 
beside  Julia,  but,  by  a  gesture,  the  young  woman 
indicated  to  him  a  folding  chair,  and  signed  to  him 
to  seat  himself  opposite  her. 

"  She's  afraid  of  me,"  said  Chaudoreille,  seating 
himself  on  the  folding  chair,  "  she  felt  that  she 
could  not  resist  me  and  wished  to  defer  her  defeat. 
There's  no  need  to  hurry  matters,  my  eyes  can 
accomplish  the  business  for  me." 

"  Can  you  imagine  why  I  sent  for  you  ?  "  said 
the  young  woman,  looking  at  him  mischievously. 

"  Why  beautiful  lady — I  flatter  myself,  I  pre- 
sume there  are  some  things  that  one  divines  when 
one  lives  in  society." 

"  And  I  think  that  'you  are  mistaken,"  said 
Julia,  assuming  a  serious  tone,  "  and  I  will  explain 
myself. " 

"Mon  Dieu,"  said  Chaudoreille  to  himself, 
dismayed  by  Julia's  change  of  tone,  "  Is  she  going 
to  kill  herself  on  account  of  me  ? " 


io8         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  I  am  the  marquis*  mistress ;  you  are  not 
ignorant  of  that  fact." 

"  Undoubtedly  not,  since  I  myself  was  the  mes- 
senger of — " 

"  Silence !  do  not  interrupt  me  !  If  I  do  not 
seek  to  hide  my  frailty  it  is  because,  far  from  hav- 
ing yielded  to  interest  or  ambition,  love  only  has 
caused  my  fall,  and,  in  the  eyes  of  a  woman,  love 
excuses  many  faults.  Yes,  I  have  loved  the  mar- 
quis for  a  long  time.  I  had  often  seen  him  on  the 
promenades,  and  in  spite  of  all  that  I  heard  said 
about  him,  I  could  not  resist  the  feeling  which  he 
inspired.  My  heart  yielded  itself  to  him.  Be  not 
astonished  that  I  yielded  so  readily  to  your  prop- 
osition. I  flattered  myself  that  the  marquis 
shared  the  devouring  flame  which  consumed  me. 
I  hoped  to  have  enough  strength  not  to  show  my 
love  until  I  was  certain  of  his.  Alas !  I  counted 
too  much  on  myself  and  it  was  very  easy  for  him 
to  persuade  me  that  he  loved  me.  Ungrateful 
man !  the  love  which  he  swore  to  me  has  already 
given  place  to  indifi^erence,  and  I !  —  I  feel  that  I 
love  him  more  than  ever." 

In  speaking  of  the  marquis,  Julia  became  ani- 
mated ;  her  glance  was  fiery  and  her  whole  per- 
son indicated  the  violent  passion  to  which  she  was 
a  prey ;  Chaudoreille,  much  surprised  at  what  he 
had  heard,  and  almost  alarmed  at  Julia's  fate,  drew 
his  stool  farther  away  as  she  grew  warmer. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  young  woman  who  had  appar- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       109 

ently  forgotten  that  Chaudoreille  was  there,  and 
gave  way  to  all  her  feelings  ;  "yes,  I  shall  always 
love  you,  fascinating  Villebelle — this  burning  heart 
beats  but  for  you !  But  I  cannot  bear  your  in- 
difference ;  and  if  you  should  love  another  then 
my  fury  would  know  no  bounds,  and  in  your 
blood  and  that  of  my  rival,  I  would  revenge  my 
outrage." 

"  O  my  God  !  she  wants  me  to  stab  the  mar- 
quis," said  Chaudoreille,  and  he  tried  to  draw  his 
chair  still  farther  away,  but,  as  it  was  now  up  against 
the  wall,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  go  any  further, 
and  he  could  only  glance  towards  the  door  from 
the  corner  of  his  eye,  murmuring,  — 

"  This  is  a  fine  rendezvous !  That  woman's 
possessed  of  the  devil.  I  like  my  portress  much 
better." 

Julia  had  ceased  speaking,  little  by  little  she 
became  calmer  and  resumed  her  ordinary  manner, 
and,  glancing  at  Chaudoreille,  she  could  not  pre- 
vent a  smile  on  seeing  him  glued  against  the 
tapestry. 

"  Come  nearer !  come  nearer,"  she  said  to  him, 
"  that  I  may  tell  you  what  I  desire  of  you.  You 
are,  you  have  told  me,  very  intimate  with  the 
barber  Touquet  ? " 

"  Yes — mada  —  mademois  —  signora." 

"The  barber  is  a  man  who  habitually  serves 
the  marquis  in  his  gallant  intrigues  ;  and  I  think 
that  through  him  it  would  be  very  easy  for  you  to 


no         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

learn  if  Villebelle  has  any  new  conquest  in  sight. 
Do  you  understand  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes ;  I  understand  you  perfectly." 

"  Are  you  willing  to  serve  me  ?  —  to  inform  me 
of  all  you  can  learn  from  the  barber  in  regard  to 
the  marquis  ?  and  if  you  yourself  should  be  em- 
ployed in  some  love  intrigues  to  come  and  impart 
to  me  immediately  the  plans  which  they  have 
formed." 

"  Yes,  certainly.  I  consent  with  all  my  heart. 
Zounds ! "  added  he  to  himself,  "  if  she  knew 
what  I  said  to  her  lover  yesterday,  I  shouldn't 
get  out  of  here  alive." 

"  What  are  you  trembling  for  ? " 

**  Oh,  it's  nothing,  it's  my  nerves ;  that  happens 
to  me  often." 

"  Wait,  take  this  purse  ;  if  you  serve  me  zeal- 
ously and  faithfully,  you  will  see  that  Julia  is 
grateful." 

The  sight  of  a  well-filled  purse  somewhat  re- 
stored Chaudoreille's  resolution.  He  took  the 
money,  bowing  nearly  to  the  floor,  and  cried,  — 

"  From  this  moment,  I  am  entirely  devoted  to 
you  ;  dispose  of  my  arm,  of  my  sword,  of —  " 

"  It  is  neither  a  question  of  your  arm  nor  of 
your  sword,  it  is  of  your  eyes  and  your  ears  only 
that  I  have  need.  Be  on  the  watch,  make  the  bar- 
ber talk,  inform  yourself  of  the  slightest  actions 
of  the  marquis,  and  come  and  give  me  an  account 
of  them.    Let  nobody  have  the  least  suspicion  of 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      iii 

you  and  that  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  us.  Go ! 
and  remember  to  inform  me  of  the  slightest  cir- 
cumstance if  it  has  any  connection  with  my  love." 

"You  shall  be  obeyed,'*  responded  Chaudo- 
reille,  bowing  humbly.  Julia  rang,  the  old  woman 
arrived,  and,  at  her  mistress*  signal,  led  the  cheva- 
lier to  the  door  without  saying  a  word. 

Once  in  the  street,  Chaudoreille  breathed  more 
freely. 

"  Zounds !  **  said  he,  "  here  I  am  in  intrigues 
up  to  my  neck  ;  Julia's  agent,  confidential  man  of 
the  marquis,  confidant  of  the  barber,  and,  what  is 
even  more  satisfactory,  receiving  money  from  all 
three  of  them.  That's  doing  pretty  well.  Hang 
it!  this  purse  is  well-filled.  Tomorrow  I  will 
clothe  myself  entirely  anew.  I  shall  get  some 
flesh-colored  breeches  that  will  make  me  look  like 
an  angel !  But  I  mustn*t  forget  the  most  inter- 
esting item  —  the  hundred  pistoles  that  the  mar- 
quis is  to  give  me  if  Blanche  pleases  him  —  and 
I  must  go  to  the  little  house,  O  Fortune !  you  are 
treating  me  like  a  spoilt  child,  but  it  must  be  con- 
fessed that  your  favors  are  directed  to  a  very 
adroit  fellow." 

While  making  these  reflections,  Chaudoreille 
had  taken  his  course  toward  the  Faubourg  Saint- 
Antolne,  arriving  at  the  little  house  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening.  He  rang  nearly  as  loudly 
as  the  marquis,  and  Marcel  on  opening  the  door 
to  him  said,  — 


112         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  You  make  as  much  noise  as  monseigneur." 

"  Apparently  it  is  because  I  have  a  right  to  do 
so,"  responded  the  Gascon,  entering  with  an  im- 
pertinent manner ;  then,  striding  across  the  gar- 
den, he  went  immediately  into  the  dining-room 
and  threw  himself  on  a  seat,  saying,  — 

"  Has  my  friend,  the  marquis,  been  here  since 
yesterday  ? " 

"  Your  friend,  the  marquis,"  answered  Marcel, 
opening  his  eyes  wide. 

"  Why,  yes,  caitiff!  Or  the  marquis,  my  friend, 
if  that  pleases  you  better." 

"  Nobody  has  been  here." 

"  And  has  he  sent  nothing  for  me  ?  " 

"  Nothing." 

"  I  must  wait  for  him  then.  Serve  supper 
quickly  for  me,  all  that  you  have  of  the  best,  some 
of  your  oldest  wines,  some  liqueur.  Come !  go 
about  it,  in  place  of  standing  and  looking  at  me 
like  a  statue." 

"  But  what  the  devil  is  the  matter  with  you  ? " 

"  Marcel,  no  reflections,  I  beg  of  you,  and,  if 
you  wish  to  keep  your  place,  render  yourself 
worthy  of  my  protection." 

Marcel  contented  himself  with  smiling,  then 
he  laid  the  table  and  served  the  supper.  Chaudo- 
rcille  placed  himself  at  table.  Marcel  did  likewise. 

"Your  conduct  is  a  little  familiar,"  said  the 
chevalier  to  him  ;  "  but,  as  we  are  alone,  I  may  as 
well  allow  you  to  seat  yourself  near  me  —  " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      113 

"  That's  very  fortunate." 

"  On  condition  that  you  serve  me  first,  always.** 

During  supper,  Chaudoreille  chinked  his  money, 
counted  his  crowns,  calculated  what  remained  to 
him,  and  what  he  expected  to  receive.  Marcel 
looked  at  him  with  surprise,  saying,  — 

"  Have  you  inherited  some  money  ?  ** 

"Yes,  I  inherit  like  that  very  often.  Zounds  ! 
if  the  marquis  keeps  his  word  with  me,  I  shall  be 
able  to  keep  the  pace." 

The  supper  lasted  long ;  Chaudoreille  was  so 
much  preoccupied  by  his  affairs  that  he  did  not 
dream  of  playing  ;  however,  midnight  had  struck, 
he  had  received  no  message  from  the  marquis, 
and  the  chevalier's  hopes  began  to  vanish.  He 
sighed,  listened  and  exclaimed, — 

"He  doesn't  come!  If  he  should  not  have 
found  her  charming  that  would  be  very  difficult 
for  me.  Zounds  !  in  place  of  a  hundred  pistoles 
I  should  receive  a  hundred  blows  of  a  stick." 

As  his  hope  diminished,  his  impertinence  be- 
came tempered  and  he  clinked  his  glass  against 
Marcel's,  saying,  — 

"  To  your  health  my  dear  and  true  friend,  for 
you  are  my  friend.  Don't  talk  to  me  about  noble- 
men of  the  court,  no  one  can  put  any  faith  in  them ; 
my  good  Marcel,  what  a  good  cook  he  is  and  what 
a  pleasure  it  is  to  me  to  drink  with  him." 

"  You  don't  think  now  that  I  did  so  ill  in  seat- 
ing myself  at  the  table  ?  " 

Vol.  VIII 


114         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  What !  was  I  so  unlucky  as  to  say  that  to 
you  ? " 

"  Certainly." 

"  Me, — could  I  have  said  such  a  stupid  thing?" 

"  Yes,  there  is  no  doubt  of  it." 

"  I  was  tipsy  then,  I'd  lost  my  senses." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  had  lost,  but  you 
said  it." 

"  Listen,  Marcel !  when  I  say  such  things  as 
that  to  you,  I  give  you  permission  to  curse  me." 

"That's  all  right,  we'll  speak  no  more  of  it." 

At  that  moment  the  bell  of  the  gate  was  heard. 
Chaudoreille  uttered  an  exclamation,  half  rose,  and 
dropped  on  his  chair  again. 

"  That  will  be  monseigneur,"  said  Marcel,  taking 
a  light,  and  he  ran  to  open  the  door,  leaving  his 
guest  divided  between  fear  and  hope. 

Marcel  soon  returned ;  he  was  alone,  but  he 
held  a  small  roll  which  he  placed  on  the  table 
before  Chaudoreille,  and  presented  him  with  a 
paper  on  which  somebody  had  written  two  lines 
in  pencil,  saying, — 

"  Here  is  what  monseigneur  has  sent  you ; 
read  it!" 

Chaudoreille  could    not   believe  his  eyes,  he 
looked  in  turn  at  the  roll,  at  the  paper,  and  at 
Marcel. 
"  Why  don't  you  read  it,"  said  the  latter  to  him. 

Finally,  he  took  the  paper  with  a  trembling 
hand,  and  read :   "  I  have  seen  her ;   you  have 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       115 

surpassed  my  hopes  and  I  double  the  promised 
recompense." 

"  O  my  God,  Marcel !  he*s  doubled  the  hun- 
dred pistoles." 

"Then  that  makes  two  hundred;  that  is  to 
say,  that  there  is,  in  that  roll,  two  thousand  livres 
tournois  in  gold." 

"  Two  thousand  livres  ! " 

**  Well,  what's  the  matter  with  you  now  ?  " 

"  Marcel,  give  me  a  little  vinegar,  I  beg  of  you. 
I  don't  feel  very  well." 

"It  seems  to  me  that  a  present  like  that  should 
make  you  feel  very  well.  Wait,  drink  a  drop  of 
brandy,  that  will  put  you  in  good  shape." 

Chaudoreille,  a  little  restored  by  the  liquor, 
opened  the  roll,  and  the  sight  of  the  pieces  of 
gold  which  it  held  deprived  him  for  some  mo- 
ments of  the  faculty  of  speech.  Finally,  he  mur- 
mured, in  a  voice  faint  with  emotion,  — 

"  Marcel,  all  this  belongs  to  me." 

"  I  know  it,  all  right." 

"  And  then,  there's  this  purse  still ;  and  these 
six  crowns  which  I  had  left  —  " 

"  Yes,  from  the  game  of  piquet,  yesterday." 

"  And  I  am  rich !  Oh,  it  produces  a  terrible 
effect,  my  poor  fellow,  to  pass  all  of  a  sudden  from 
poverty  to  opulence.    Alas !  I  shall  suffocate !  " 

"  Drink  a  little  more.  My  faith !  if  good  for- 
tune produces  such  an  effect,  I'd  rather  remain 
without  a  sou  and  breathe  freely.  " 


ii6         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  O  Marcel,  you're  very  stupid,  my  boy ! " 

**  I  don't  know  at  this  moment  which  is  the 
stupider  of  us  two." 

"Two  thousand  livres!  Who  would  believe 
that  one  could  thus  hold  his  fortune  in  the  palm 
of  his  hand." 

"  Hang  it !  one  should  hold  it  there  as  long  as 
he  can.** 

**  Marcel,  do  you  know  of  any  property  for  sale 
in  the  neighborhood  ?  " 

"  No,  why  do  you  ask  that  ? " 

"  It's  very  necessary  that  I  should  place  my 
funds.  What  the  deuce  shall  I  do  with  all  this ! 
Come  !  after  tomorrow,  I  shall  set  up  my  house, 
but  first  I  shall  leave  my  lodging  in  the  Rue 
Brise-Miche  and  I  shall  take  one  near  the  cardi- 
nal's palace;  I  shall  need  a  jockey.  Marcel,  will 
you  be  my  jockey?  No,  in  fact,  you  are  too 
big.  Ah,  if  it  were  not  so  late,  I  should  visit 
some  of  the  gambling  houses  ;  but  I  can't  expose 
myself  at  night  in  this  neighborhood  with  so  much 
gold  on  me.  What  a  figure  I  can  cut  in  the  gam- 
bling dens  and  at  faro.  I  shall  place  first  a  louis 
on  the  card,  I  shall  win,  I  shall  double  my  stakes, 
I  shall  still  win.  I  shan't  take  it  up,  I  shall  win 
ten  times  following,  and  I  shall  carry  away  a  heap 
of  gold.  How  can  I  spend  all  that.  Oh,  what  an 
excellent  idea!  I  can  dine  and  sup  twice  every 
day,  that  will  indemnify  me  for  the  times  that  I 
have  had  to  fast. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       117 

Marcel,  whom  fortune  had  not  overwhelmed 
with  her  favors,  went  to  sleep  while  Chaudoreille 
made  his  plans  and  counted  his  pieces  of  gold, 
but  day  dawned  without  the  latter  having  closed 
his  eyes,  for,  at  the  least  sound,  he  started  and  car- 
ried his  hand  to  his  treasure,  which  he  had  rolled 
in  his  belt. 

Chaudoreille  awoke  Marcel  and  ordered  him  to 
go  and  find  a  sedan  chair ;  but  Marcel  would  not 
leave  the  house,  under  the  pretence  that  he  must 
obey  the  marquis'  orders.  Chaudoreille  became 
very  insolent  again  and  shouted  and  threatened, 
but  seeing  that  nothing  would  move  Marcel,  he 
took  leave,  and  decided  to  return  on  foot  to  Paris. 

The  little  man  felt  larger  by  six  inches  since  he 
had  so  much  gold  in  his  possession.  He  hardly 
looked  at  the  passers-by,  his  nose  seemed  to 
threaten  the  heavens,  and  he  was  astonished  that 
the  sentinel  on  guard  at  the  barrier  did  not  pre- 
sent arms  to  him. 

After  breakfasting  as  copiously  as  possible  he 
walked  to  the  palace  which  Richelieu  had  built, 
and  on  which  he  had  lavished  all  that  the  luxury 
and  taste  of  the  time  afforded  to  please  the  eye 
and  to  leave  to  posterity  a  monument  worthy  of 
the  one  who  had  erected  it. 

Chaudoreille  went  into  several  shops,  but  he 
found  nothing  fine  enough  or  fresh  enough  or 
brilliant  enough  for  him.  He  ordered  a  doublet 
of  rose-colored  velvet  slashed  with  white  satin ; 


ii8         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

breeches  of  a  similar  color ;  a  cherry-colored  man- 
tle embroidered  with  silver  and  a  fringed  belt  with 
golden  tassels.  These  articles  would  take  the 
larger  part  of  his  fortune ;  but  as  he  was  certain 
of  breaking  the  bank  at  faro,  he  refused  himself 
nothing,  and  within  two  days  hoped  to  be  arrayed 
like  the  most  elegant  nobleman  of  the  court. 

Having  ordered  his  costume,  he  went  into  one 
of  the  inns  in  the  city,  where  he  was  served  with 
a  rich  dinner  and  exquisite  wines ;  and  having  al- 
ready perceived  that  it  was  not  so  easy  as  he  had 
believed  to  dine  twice  a  day,  which  would  be  a 
very  great  resource  for  rich  people  who  do  not 
know  what  to  do  with  their  time,  he  tried  to  make 
his  repast  last  twice  as  long  as  usual. 

At  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  he  finally  got 
up  from  the  table ;  his  face  flushed,  his  eyes  bril- 
liant, his  legs  a  little  unsteady,  and  left  the  inn. 
It  was  still  too  early  to  go  to  the  gambling  house, 
where  the  high  players  do  not  put  in  an  appear- 
ance until  towards  nine  o'clock,  and  to  pass  his 
time  until  then  Chaudoreille  decided  to  go  to  the 
play,  which  he  had  not  visited  for  a  long  time. 
He  therefore  took  his  way  towards  the  Hotel  de 
Bourgogne,  which  he  preferred  to  the  Theatre  des 
Italiens,  because  Turlupin,  Gros-Guillaume  and 
Gautier-Garguille,  famous  for  the  farces  which 
they  had  played  in  their  little  Theatre  de  I'Estra- 
pade  had  obtained  permission  from  Richelieu  to 
play  there. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      119 

The  theatre  of  the  Hotel  de  Bourgognc  was 
situated  in  the  Rue  Mauconseil ;  the  entrance 
was  very  narrow  and  the  corridors  very  incommo- 
dious ;  the  body  of  the  house  was  composed  of  a 
pit  and  several  tiers  of  boxes.  When  the  court 
attended  the  theatre  the  courtiers  carried  their 
seats  with  them.  Here  were  represented,  follow- 
ing the  privilege  granted  to  comedians  in  January, 
1 6 13,  all  mysteries,  and  decent  and  amusing  plays ; 
presently,  comedies,  rather  more  elevated  in  tone 
than  the  usual  buffooneries,  were  played  there; 
and  also  some  plays  in  which  mythological  divini- 
ties figured  as  characters,  the  poets  of  the  day 
mingling  the  sacred  and  profane;  but  the  low 
jokes  and  puns  were  what  captivated  and  attracted 
the  public. 

Chaudoreille  entered  the  house  and  slipped 
into  the  pit,  where  everyone  was  standing,  and 
where  the  fluctuations  of  the  crowd  often  carried 
one  from  one  corner  to  another.  The  chevalier 
found  himself  behind  a  very  tall  man  and  could 
not  see  the  stage.  In  vain  he  drew  himself  up 
and  stood  on  his  tiptoes ;  he  could  see  nothing 
except  the  backs  and  the  wigs  of  his  neighbors. 
He  tried  to  protest,  but  everybody  hushed  him, 
for  Gautier-Garguille  appeared  and  was  about  to 
speak  the  prologue  which  preceded  the  piece. 
Listen  to  the  buffoon,  that  you  may  have  an 
idea  of  the  style  of  prologue  in  use  under  Louis 
the  Thirteenth. 


I20         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Gentlemen  and  ladies,  one  thing  I  ought  to 
say  to  you,  and  that  is  not  to  incline  your  ears  to 
the  symphony  of  this  pastime  as  manual  operators 
who  do  not  cooperate  with  the  nonsense ;  and  do 
not  treat  it  as  a  deluding  music  or  voice,  rather 
for  the  spoliation  and  express  capture  of  your 
purses  than  to  win  praise  from  your  ears ;  the 
field  of  my  invention  being  so  sterile  that  if  it  is 
not  watered  by  the  cordial  of  your  kindness  it  is 
difficult  for  it  to  produce  flowers  worthy  to  be 
offered  to  you.  Philippot  will  appear  immedi- 
ately, and  he  hopes,  under  the  assurance  of  your 
indulgence,  to  make  you  laugh  and  cry  both 
together,  so  that  finally  the  moderation  of  one 
feeling  shall  temper  the  violence  of  the  other. 
Gentlemen  and  ladies,  I  shall  desire,  I  shall  wish, 
I  shall  will,  I  shall  demand,  and  I  shall  require, 
desideratively,  wishfully,  willingly,  demandatively, 
and  requireatively,  with  my  desiderations  and  my 
requireations,  etc.,  to  thank  you  for  your  kind 
presence  and  attention  to  a  little  jovial  and  jolly 
farce  which  we  are  about  to  represent,  before 
which  I  wish  to  make  a  large,  small,  wide,  nar- 
row, and  spacious  remonstrance,  which  will  make 
you  laugh." 

While  Gautier-Garguille  was  delivering  this 
bombastic  nonsense,  Chaudoreille  was  being  tor- 
lured,  pressed,  pushed  on  all  sides,  and  struck  in 
the  face  by  his  neighbors'  elbows ;  in  addition  to 
which  he  suffered  much  anxiety  in  regard  to  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      121 

safety  of  his  purse.  The  little  man  had  urgently 
begged  them  to  let  him  go  out,  but  nobody  would 
listen  to  him.  In  his  despair,  and  having  imme- 
diate need  of  a  little  air,  he  adopted  the  plan  of 
pulling  the  wigs  of  two  of  his  neighbors  to  hoist 
himself  to  their  height,  but  the  wigs  came  off,  and 
the  heads  of  two  respectable  tradesmen  of  Paris 
appeared  naked  before  the  assembly.  The  two 
spectators  who  felt  their  wigs  pulled  off,  cried, — 

"  Thief!  watch ! "  and  Chaudoreille  mingled 
his  voice  with  theirs,  crying,  "  Help."  The  play 
was  interrupted  and  at  last,  Chaudoreille  was  dis- 
covered struggling  among  the  legs  of  the  specta- 
tors, and  rolling  on  the  floor  of  the  pit  with  the 
two  wigs,  which  he  had  not  dropped. 

The  two  bald  heads  treated  him  as  a  thief;  he 
returned  the  wigs  and  explained  his  conduct  as 
well  as  he  could  ;  they  put  him  out  of  the  door  of 
the  pit,  which  was  all  that  he  wished.  He  mounted 
to  the  boxes  and  found  a  place  in  front  and,  from 
time  to  time,  glanced  angrily  at  the  public. 

However,  the  piece  was  commencing.  Turlu- 
pin  and  Gros-Guillaume  were  on  the  stage  and 
Chaudoreille  rubbed  his  eyes,  saying,  — 

"  Why !  by  jingo  !  if  I  had  not  killed  him,  I 
should  believe  that  that  was  the  Prince  of  Cochin- 
China." 

Presently  Gautler-Garguille  reappeared ;  he  had 
counterfeited  the  Gascon  to  a  marvel,  his  costume 
was  exactly  the  same  as  that  ^  Chaudoreille  and 


122         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

he  had  copied  his  manners  and  grimaces  so  well 
that  the  latter  cried,  — 

"Is  it  another  self,  I  see?  —  can  I  have  a 
double?" 

The  comedian  having  seen  his  model  in  the 
box,  saluted  him  and  made  faces  at  him ;  the 
spectators*  eyes  were  turned  on  Chaudoreille,  they 
recognized  in  the  little  man  that  they  had  chased 
from  the  pit  the  one  whom  Gautier-Garguille  had 
copied,  and  the  shouts  of  laughter  redoubled. 
The  chevalier  perceived  that  they  were  mocking 
at  him  and  was  furious ;  he  drew  his  sword  and 
threatened  the  pit,  because  when  one  defies  every- 
body together  it  is  as  if  one  defied  nobody.  The 
spectators  laughed  louder  still,  and  Chaudoreille 
left  his  box,  swearing  that  he  would  never  again 
go  to  the  Hotel  de  Bourgogne. 

Arrived  in  the  street,  where  some  persons  had 
followed  him,  he  again  gave  way  to  his  anger, 
exclaiming  that  he  would  punish  the  buffoon  who 
had  dared  to  copy  him,  that  nobody  could  mock 
with  impunity  at  a  man  like  him,  and  that  he 
would  spend,  if  necessary,  a  hundred  pistoles  to 
avenge  himself. 

While  speaking  thus,  he  drew  out  his  purse, 
chinked  his  gold,  took  it  out  and  put  it  back  in 
his  pockets,  and  finally  exclaimed,  — 

**  Who  will  go  and  bring  me  a  sedan  chair !  ** 

Two  men  immediately  went  to  execute  this 
commission.     While  waiting  for  them  to  return. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      123 

Chaudoreille  promenaded  before  the  theatre,  swing- 
ing himself  in  the  manner  which  he  judged  the 
most  noble,  and  striking  his  belt  every  minute  to 
make  his  gold  pieces  chink. 

The  two  men  returned  presently,  they  had  ob- 
tained a  chair,  and  w.ould  themselves  have  the 
honor  of  carrying  Chaudoreille,  or  so  they  said 
to  him  on  their  arrival,  exclaiming, — 

"  Here,  master !  get  in,  master,  you'll  be 
pleased  with  us." 

Chaudoreille,  whom  nobody  had  ever  called 
master,  felt  much  pleased,  and  was  about  to  bow 
low  to  the  porters,  but  he  restrained  himself  and 
darted  into  the  chair,  quivering  with  delight  on 
the  cushion  which  was  at  the  bottom. 

"  Where  shall  we  go,  master  ? "  said  one  of 
them. 

"  To  Rue  Bertrand-qui-Dort.  You  will  see  a 
lantern  at  the  door  of  the  house  where  I  stop." 

"  All  right,  master ! " 

They  closed  the  door  of  the  chair,  and  Chaudo- 
reille felt  himself  raised,  and  gently  carried  through 
the  streets  of  Paris.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had 
been  in  a  chair.  The  pleasure  which  he  experi- 
enced in  being  carried  made  him  forget  the  dis- 
agreeable scene  of  the  play.  He  reflected  on  his 
dazzling  situation,  and  on  the  pleasure  which  he 
should  taste  in  playing  high,  and  laid  new  plans. 
However  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  been  a 
long  time  in  the  chair,  and  the  porters  were  still 


124         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

walking.  Chaudoreille  wished  to  know  if  he  were 
near  his  destination.  There  was  a  very  narrow  lit- 
tle window  on  each  side  of  the  seat,  but  these 
windows  could  not  be  lowered.  It  was  late,  one 
could  not  see  clearly  in  the  streets,  and  Chaudo- 
reille could  distinguish  nothing. 

"Are  we  almost  there,"  cried  he,  leaning  to- 
wards the  front ;  nobody  answered,  and  they  con- 
tinued to  carry  him.  He  began  to  think  the 
motion  of  his  carriage  not  quite  so  pleasant,  he 
tried  to  open  the  door  in  front,  the  only  vent  by 
which  one  could  leave  a  sedan  chair,  but  that  door 
would  not  open  from  the  inside. 

A  cold  sweat  bathed  the  little  man's  brow.  He 
conceived  a  thousand  suspicions,  recalled  divers 
adventures  in  which  sedan  chairs  figured,  and  was 
bitterly  repenting  having  taken  one  when  at  last 
he  felt  that  they  had  stopped.  He  breathed  more 
freely  and  prepared  to  descend,  but  after  being 
deposited  on  the  ground  the  chair  was  stood  up 
on  end.  In  such  a  manner  that  when  they  opened 
the  door  it  was  above  Chaudoreille's  head. 

"  How  do  you  think  I  can  get  out  like  that  ? " 
cried  he,  trying  to  climb. 

**  Before  coming  out  there  is  a  little  ceremony 
to  be  observed,  master,'*  said  the  porters,  in  a 
jeering  tone. 

"  A  ceremony,  what  is  it,  my  boys  ?  " 

"  It  is  to  give  us  all  the  silver  and  gold  that 
you  have  about  you.    We'll  relieve  you  of  that.'* 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       125 

"  What  is  that  you  say  ?  Scoundrels  !  Rascals ! " 
"  Come,  do  as  we  bid  you  and  no  noise,  or  that 
will  be  worse  for  you." 

As  they  gave  this  order,  they  flashed  the  blades 
of  their  swords  before  Chaudoreille's  eyes,  and  he 
fell  back  in  the  bottom  of  the  chair,  unable  to 
support  himself.  The  two  porters  were  obliged 
to  draw  him  from  the  chair  themselves.  He 
glanced  around  him,  but  he  was  in  a  lonely,  nar- 
row road,  surrounded  by  marshes,  where  nobody 
would  venture  so  late.  The  robbers  searched  him, 
and  despoiled  him  of  all  that  he  possessed,  then 
they  escaped  with  their  sedan  chair,  leaving  him 
lying  beside  a  huge  stone,  half  dead  with  fright. 


CHAPTER  VII 
Poor  Urbain 

The  morning  after  Blanche's  hurried  and  un- 
expected departure,  old  Marguerite  left  her  room 
at  her  usual  time.  The  good  woman  had  heard 
nothing ;  she  had  slept  soundly,  for  it  was  long 
since  the  pleasures  and  the  pains  of  love  had 
caused  her  to  suffer  from  insomnia.  Her  first 
movement  on  arising  was  to  go  to  her  dear 
Blanche's  room  to  kiss  her,  as  she  was  in  the 
habit  of  doing  every  morning.  She  found  the 
door  of  the  room  half  open  ;  but  Blanche  was  not 
there,  and  the  extreme  disorder  of  the  apartment, 
the  bed  which  had  been  slept  in  but  had  not  been 
made,  the  clothing  spread  upon  the  furniture,  all 
indicated  that  some  extraordinary  event  had  taken 
place.  The  young  girl  had  never  left  her  room 
without  Marguerite,  and  the  latter  called  Blanche, 
and  receiving  no  answer  and  alarmed  at  this  de- 
parture from  her  customary  habits,  and  perhaps 
by  a  secret  presentiment,  went  downstairs  to  see 
if  the  young  girl  was  with  her  master,  but  the  bar- 
ber was  alone  in  the  lower  room,  and  then  Mar- 
guerite said,  in  a  frightened  tone, — 

"  O  my  God !  where  can  the  dear  child  be  ?  " 

ia6 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      127 

"  What  is  the  matter.  Marguerite,"  said  Tou- 
quet,  who  was  prepared  for  this  scene. 

"  Blanche,  monsieur,  Blanche  is  not  in  her 
room.  I  have  sought  her  vainly  for  a  long  time ; 
someone  has  taken  the  dear  child  away  from  us.'* 

"  Taken  her  away ! "  exclaimed  the  barber,  pre- 
tending to  be  struck  with  astonishment.  He  imme- 
diately went  to  Blanche's  room,  followed  by  the 
old  servant,  who  went  as  quickly  as  her  legs  would 
permit.  After  a  search,  which  Touquet  knew  would 
be  fruitless,  he  threw  himself  on  a  seat,  crying, — 

"  The  wretch  has  fulfilled  his  threats  !  ** 

"  Who  do  you  mean,  monsieur !  ** 

**  That  man  you  saw  here  yesterday  evening." 

"  I  believe  you're  right,  monsieur,  it  can  be 
nobody  except  him." 

"He  was  fascinated  with  Blanche,  he  ventured 
to  ask  her  hand  of  me.  I  refused  it  to  him  and 
this  is  how  he  has  revenged  himself." 

"  But,  monsieur,  you  must  know  where  this 
man  lives.  He  had  the  bearing  of  a  great  noble- 
man.    You  can  recover  our  dear  child." 

"  I  have  very  little  hope  of  it.  This  wretch 
assumed  a  brilliant  costume  in  the  hope  of  seduc- 
ing Blanche,  but  he  is  a  schemer  without  name, 
without  a  roof,  without  position." 

"  A  schemer,"  said  Marguerite,  looking  at  her 
master  in  astonishment ;  "  but,  monsieur,  it  seemed 
to  me  that  he  was  the  same  friend  that  you  were 
waiting  for  so  late  some  time  ago." 


128         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  barber  was  for  an  instant  rendered  uneasy 
by  Marguerite's  remark,  but  soon  recovering  him- 
self, he  resumed,  — 

"  You  are  mistaken,  it  was  not  he ;  I  forbid  you 
to  speak  to  anybody  of  that  again." 

"And  Urbain,  monsieur,  —  that  poor  Urbain 
—  when  he  comes  here  this  evening  —  " 

"  Urbain  will  unite  his  efforts  with  mine  to  re- 
cover her  whom  he  was  about  to  marry." 

The  barber  went  out  and  Marguerite  then  gave 
free  course  to  her  tears.  The  good  woman  loved 
Blanche  with  a  mother's  tenderness.  She  could 
not  bear  to  be  deprived  of  her  presence,  and  im- 
patiently awaited  Urbain's  arrival ;  for  it  seemed 
to  her  that  he  would  know  better  than  anybody 
else  how  to  discover  and  restore  her  lost  darling. 

Touquet  was  absent  during  a  large  part  of  the 
day.  On  his  return.  Marguerite  inquired  as  to 
the  success  of  his  search,  but  he  answered  her 
coldly,  — 

"  I  have  no  hope  of  finding  her."  These  words 
chilled  the  poor  old  woman's  heart;  she  could 
not  understand  how  anyone  could  be  consoled  at 
the  loss  of  Blanche. 

The  hour  drew  near  when  Urbain  could  recom- 
pense himself  for  the  day's  absence. 

"  Only  one  day  more,"  said  he,  as  he  ap- 
proached the  barber's  house,  "and  she  will  be 
mine."  He  hurried,  his  heart  palpitating  with 
love,  but  on  looking  up  at  Blanche's  window  he 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      129 

saw  no  light,  and  this  slight  circumstance  aston- 
ished him  and  rendered  him  uneasy ;  or  rather  a 
secret  presentiment  warned  him  of  his  misfortune, 
for,  in  love,  presentiments  are  not  chimeras. 

Urbain  knocked  and  Marguerite  appeared,  but 
the  grief  depicted  on  her  face,  her  eyes  filled  with 
tears,  announced  that  something  had  happened. 

"Where  is  Blanche?"  cried  Urbain,  looking 
fearfully  at  Marguerite. 

The  old  woman  could  only  sigh  deeply,  but 
Urbain  was  no  longer  near  her,  he  ran,  he  flew  to 
the  room  of  his  beloved,  but  that  room  was 
deserted,  its  charming  occupant  was  gone.  Mar- 
guerite slowly  followed  the  young  man. 

"In  mercy  tell  me,**  cried  Urbain,  "  where  is 
she  ?     Hide  nothing  from  me.** 

**  My  poor  boy,  collect  all  your  courage.  Last 
night  somebody  carried  off  our  dear  child.** 

Urbain  remained  motionless  and  overwhelmed, 
while  Marguerite  told  him  all  that  she  knew. 
He  listened  without  interrupting  her,  and  seemed 
as  if  he  could  hardly  yet  realize  his  misfortune, 
but  presently,  dropping  on  Blanche's  favorite  seat, 
he  yielded  to  the  profoundest  despair.  The  tears 
rolled  down  his  face;  at  nineteen  years  of  age 
one  sheds  them  still  in  the  troubles  of  life ;  one 
has  not  then  that  strength  of  mind  which  is  later 
acquired  in  the  school  of  misfortune. 

Marguerite  tried  to  calm  Urbain  by  saying  to 
him, — 

VoU  VIII 


I30         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

**  You  will  recover  her,  that  dear  child,  for  you 
are  not  capable  of  forgetting  her,  and  coldly  con- 
soling yourself  for  her  loss." 

**  I  forget  her  ?  **  said  Urbain,  pressing  the 
hands  of  the  good  old  woman.  **  Ah,  Marguer- 
ite, is  not  my  life  bound  up  in  that  of  Blanche  ? 
I  shall  take  no  rest  until  she  is  with  me  again.** 

**That*s  right,  my  dear  Urbain,  to  hear  you 
speak  thus  renders  me  hopeful ;  besides,  our  poor 
little  one  has  with  her  a  talisman,  and  that  light- 
ens my  anxiety  a  little.** 

"  Tell  me  all  the  circumstances  again ;  a  man 
came  here,  you  say  ?  ** 

**  Yes,  he  said  he  was  sent  by  my  master,  and 
came  to  speak  to  Blanche.** 

**  The  scoundrel !  and  what  did  he  say  to  her?  ** 

"  Oh,  he  merely  paid  her  some  compliments. 
He  spoke  like  a  great  nobleman,  and  he  had  the 
costume  and  bearing  of  one,  although  M.  Touquet 
pretends  that  he  is  a  wretch  without  position  and 
without  home.'* 

"  He  knows  him,  then  ?  ** 

"There's  no  doubt  of  it.  I  confess  to  you 
that  I  am  afraid,  although  he  did  not  have  a 
wicked  appearance,  rather  a  look  of  pride,  and  an 
imperious  tone.  I  was  sorry  at  having  opened 
the  door  for  him,  and  Blanche,  the  poor  little 
thing,  trembled.  But  all  this  didn't  last  very 
long.  He  heard  M.  Touquet  come  in,  and  im- 
mediately the  stranger  took  his  mantle,  saluted 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      131 

Blanche,  and  went  down  to  monsieur.  I  followed 
him,  but  they  sent  me  away,  and  I  know  nothing 
further." 

Urbain  left  Marguerite,  he  darted  from  the 
chamber  and,  in  an  instant,  he  faced  the  barber, 
whose  cold  and  gloomy  look  contrasted  with 
Urbain's    excitement. 

"Well,  monsieur,  what  have  you  learned? 
what  have  you  done  to  recover  my  bride,"  cried 
he.     "  Speak  !  what  do  you  know  ? " 

The  barber,  rendered  rather  uneasy  by  the  vi- 
vacity of  Urbain's  questions,  answered  hesitat- 
ingly,— 

"  I  have  made  a  thousand  inquiries,  I  can  dis- 
cover nothing." 

"  And  this  scoundrel  who  came  here  yesterday, 
who  is  he  ?  " 

"  I  hardly  know  him.  He  sometimes  came 
into  my  shop,  for  what  purpose  I  do  not  know, 
and  I  swear  to  you  that  he  must  have  heard  of 
Blanche's  beauty,  for  he  had  never  seen  her,  and 
formed  the  idea  of  introducing  himself  to  her." 

The  barber  appeared  so  sincere  in  pronouncing 
these  words  that  Urbain  repented  of  having  sus- 
pected him. 

**  Forgive  me,"  said  he,  *'  for  daring  to  think  — 
but  you  would  not  make  us  unhappy.  You  have 
given  me  Blanche,  you  have  been  to  her  as  a 
father.  Oh,  you  will  join  with  me,  will  you  not, 
in  endeavoring  to  find  her  ravishers  ? " 


132         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Yes,"  answered  Touquet  in  a  low  tone,  "  I 
shall  second  you,  I  promise  you.** 

"  And  the  name  of  that  man,  you  must  know 
it?" 

"  I  never  dreamt  of  asking  him  his  name.  Yes- 
terday, on  my  showing  him  immediately  that  his 
love  for  Blanche  was  a  folly,  he  retired,  making 
many  threats  to  which  I  paid  little  attention." 

"  Who  could  have  given  him  the  information 
which  led  him  to  wish  to  see  her?  and  how  could 
he  get  into  Blanche*s  room  ?  '* 

"  A  few  false  keys  would  be  sufficient  for  that, 
and  in  this  city,  you  know,  nobody  is  safe  in  his 
own  house." 

Urbain  remained  silent  for  some  moments  and 
the  barber  avoided  his  looks  ;  finally  the  bachelor 
exclaimed,  — 

"  Good-by,  monsieur,  I  am  going  to  seek  for 
her  whom  you  gave  me  to  be  my  bride.** 

"  May  you  be  successful,'*  answered  the  barber 
in  a  gloomy  voice,  as  Urbain  abruptly  departed, 
thinking  of  nothing  but  Blanche,  but  not  know- 
ing where  to  direct  his  steps. 

Urbain  went  first  to  the  different  gates  of 
Paris  ;  there  he  demanded  if  during  the-  previous 
night  anyone  had  seen  a  young  woman  pass,  and 
gave  a  description  of  her.  He  was  sure  that 
everybody  would  notice  Blanche,  and  that  her 
charming  features  would  fix  themselves  upon  the 
memory ;  but  he  did  not  obtain  the  slightest  in- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      133 

formation,  they  hardly  answered  hinio  His  sim- 
ple costume  prevented  their  putting  themselves 
out  to  oblige  him,  for  in  the  good  old  times,  as 
well  as  today,  it  was  necessary  to  scatter  gold  in 
order  to  expedite  any  business. 

"  If  all  these  people  could  know  Blanche,"  said 
Urbain,  "  they  would  not  show  so  much  indiffer- 
ence." 

Not  daring  to  leave  Paris  without  having  some 
indication  as  to  the  way  that  he  should  take,  Ur- 
bain continued  to  walk  as  chance  led  him  in  the 
capital,  though  the  inhabitants  had  for  some  time 
retired  to  rest.  Thieves,  lovers,  and  soldiers  of 
the  watch,  alone  showed  themselves  in  the  gloomy 
streets  of  Paris.  The  young  bachelor  traversed 
many  streets  without  meeting  anybody,  but  he 
still  walked  on,  saying, — 

"  Why  should  I  go  in,  I  could  not  sleep,  and 
what  could  I  do  with  myself  at  home  ? " 

However,  love  and  despair  do  not  render  one 
indefatigable.  Urbain  had  been  walking  since 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  it  was  now  nearly 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  His  legs  began  to 
fail  him,  he  felt  that  it  would  soon  be  impossible 
for  him  to  go  any  further.  He  looked  around 
him.  The  moon,  which  showed  at  intervals,  al- 
lowed him  to  distinguish  the  junction  of  some 
lonely  cross  roads  into  which  converged  some 
lanes  which  led  to  the  marshes.  Urbain  turned 
towards  a  large  stone  which  he  perceived  some 


134         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

steps  from  him,  for  he  thought  he  would  there 
seat  himself  and  wait  for  day,  but  as  he  reached 
the  stone  his  feet  struck  against  something  which 
he  had  not  perceived,  and  a  voice  immediately 
exclaimed,  — 

"  Oh,  by  jingo  !  don't  kill  me;  I  haven't  a  sou 
now." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

The  Chateau  de  Sarcus 

The  carriage  which  contained  the  unfortunate 
Blanche  bowled  steadily  along  for  several  hours, 
and  in  the  excitement  occasioned  by  this  novel 
journey,  the  lovely  child  hardly  remembered  her 
former  fears.  After  living  in  the  most  absolute 
retirement,  shut  up  for  years  in  a  single  room  ex- 
cept at  meal  times,  it  seemed  like  a  dream  to  find 
herself  in  a  carriage  in  the  middle  of  the  night, 
and  alone  journeying  into  the  wide  world,  she 
knew  not  whither.  However,  the  noise  of  the 
wheels  and  of  the  horses'  feet,  mingled  with  the 
cracking  of  the  postilion's  whip,  as  he  sought  to 
increase  the  speed  of  his  horses,  which  were  already 
going  like  the  wind,  and  the  rocking  of  the  ve- 
hicle as  it  swayed  from  side  to  side  alarmed  her 
very  much  and  persuaded  her  of  the  reality  of  her 
situation. 

"I  am  going  to  see  Urbain,"  said  the  trem- 
bling traveller  to  herself,  "  I  am  going  to  rejoin 
him ;  I  should  not  give  way  to  my  fears,  we  are 
going  to  be  so  happy.  Why,  since  we  are  about 
to  be  united  forever,  should  I  feel  anything  but 
pleasure  at  hastening  the  moment  ?     But  then,  I 

»3S 


136         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

had  hoped  to  travel  with  Urbain  and  everything 
has  turned  out  so  differently.  Poor  Urbain,  it's 
not  his  fault ;  but  why  did  he  fight  ?  Oh,  I  am 
so  anxious  to  be  with  him !  —  and  Marguerite 
didn't  even  say  good-by  to  me.  It  seems  as 
though  everybody  had  abandoned  me." 

The  sweet  girl  dried  the  tears  which  had  mois- 
tened her  eyes,  then  she  looked  out  of  the  win- 
dows, but  the  darkness  prevented  her  from  seeing 
anything ;  she  sighed  and  sank  back  in  the  car- 
riage. 

"  Where  are  we  ?  I  don't  know,  but  it  seems  to 
me  they  are  going  very  fast.  Well,  so  much  the 
better,  I  shall  be  the  sooner  with  Urbain." 

As  soon  as  day  began  to  break,  Blanche,  who 
kept  looking  out  of  the  windows,  could  partly 
distinguish  trees,  fields,  and  houses.  Presently 
the  mist  was  entirely  dissipated,  and  the  young 
traveller  admired  the  glory  of  the  dawn,  and  the 
varied  scenes  which  seemed  to  fly  before  her. 
Soon  the  carriage  rolled  along  a  road  bordered 
only  by  trees  and  hedges ;  the  branches  of  some 
old  trees  from  time  to  time  brushed  the  top  of 
the  carriage,  and  this  unexpected  sound  made  the 
inexperienced  traveller  tremble.  All  of  a  sudden 
the  view  extended  widely;  the  road  was  edged 
with  meadows  and  rich  fields.  The  laborers  were 
already  going  to  their  work  ;  already  the  furrows 
made  by  the  plough  could  be  seen,  and  the  spade 
had  newly  broken  the  sweet-smelling  earth.   The 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      137 

trees  were  still  bare  of  foliage,  but  the  tips  of 
the  branches  were  reddened  and  about  to  break 
into  bud.  Everything  announced  the  return  of 
spring.  Farther  on  they  passed  through  a  vil- 
lage, the  early  rising  inhabitants  of  which  could 
be  seen  at  their  doors  or  their  windows,  hastening 
to  watch  the  carriage  passing  so  rapidly.  Content- 
ment and  health  were  pictured  on  the  face  of  each 
peasant ;  it  was  their  only  ornament,  for  cleanli- 
ness and  neatness  are  not  distinguishing  traits  of 
the  country  people,  whose  children  play  on  the 
manure  heap,  pell-mell  with  the  ducks  and  geese. 
But  nature  is  not  always  pleasing,  and  it  is  not  in 
the  outskirts  of  Paris  that  one  must  seek  for  the 
shepherds  of  Florian,  the  herdsmen  of  Bertin,  the 
seductive  villagers  of  our  comic  operas. 

Country  scenes  always  please  the  pure  and  sim- 
ple mind,  and  Blanche,  as  she  passed  the  villages 
and  farms,  and  hamlets,  exclaimed, — 

"  How  delightful  to  live  here,  to  walk,  to  run 
in  the  fields  and  in  the  woods !  Oh,  how  happy 
I  shall  be  with  Urbain  ! " 

Indeed,  the  fields  and  the  woods  bore  a  more 
smiling  aspect  than  the  Rue  des  Bourdonnais,  and 
the  barber's  gloomy  house. 

The  carriage  did  not  stop ;  the  postilions  had 
orders  to  speed  straight  to  the  chateau,  though  the 
horses  should  die  at  the  journey's  end.  Blanche 
did  not  know  how  far  from  Paris  was  Urbain's 
house  and  country,  besides,  she  did  not  remem- 


138         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

ber  ever  before  being  in  a  carriage,  and  it  seemed 
to  her  that  in  moving  so  quickly  they  must  have 
gone  a  very  long  way.  About  an  hour  after  mid- 
day they  passed  through  the  pretty  town  of  Grand- 
villiers,  where  a  great  number  of  manufactories  af- 
forded work  and  means  to  the  inhabitants;  but 
they  did  not  stop  there,  and  the  carriage,  turning 
to  the  right,  crossed  a  wide  plain  and  diverged 
towards  a  building  which  could  be  seen  at  a  little 
distance,  and  which  was  justly  called  the  wonder 
of  the  country  side.  It  was  the  Chateau  de  Sar- 
cus,  of  which  the  elegant  fa9ade  could  be  discerned 
in  the  distance.  Blanche  perceived  the  chateau, 
but  she  was  far  from  thinking  that  her  journey 
would  terminate  there,  though  she  gazed  at  that 
magnificent  dwelling  and,  as  the  carriage  rolled 
nearer,  she  could  easily  distinguish  the  sculptures 
and  admire  the  work  of  artists  who  had  surpassed 
themselves  in  order  to  merit  the  approbation  of 
that  gallant  monarch,  who  patronized  the  arts  as 
much  as  he  admired  beauty. 

At  last  they  reached  the  front  of  the  chateau, 
and  the  carriage,  in  place  of  passing,  entered  the 
confines  of  this  handsome  domain. 

"  Well,  now,  what  is  the  matter  ?  "  said  Blanche 
trying  to  open  the  door.  "  This  is  not  the  place, 
this  cannot  be  right ;  Urbain  hasn't  a  big  house 
like  this  —  the  coachman  is  mistaken." 

However,  the  carriage  stopped  in  a  spacious 
courtyard.    A  servant  in  rich  livery  opened  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       139 

door,  and  with  a  respectful  air  offered  his  hand  to 
help  Blanche  alight. 

"  Oh,  no,  I  don't  wish  to  get  down,"  said  the 
innocent  child,  looking  at  the  servant  in  astonish- 
ment, "  this  is  not  the  place  I  was  coming  to  ;  cer- 
tainly they  are  mistaken,  this  is  a  chateau,  it 
cannot  be  Urbain's  house ;  besides,  he  would  have 
been  very  prompt  to  meet  me." 

"  No,  madame,  they  are  not  mistaken,"  an- 
swered Germain,  the  marquis's  valet,  who  had 
arrived  two  hours  before  the  carriage,  in  order 
that  he  might  give  instructions  to  the  house  por- 
ter, and  have  rooms  prepared  for  Blanche.  "Your 
journey  terminates  here,  and  everything  is  in  read- 
iness to  receive  you." 

"  Here?"  said  Blanche,  as  she  lightly  stepped 
from  the  carriage,  and  looked  around  her  in  sur- 
prise, "  but  where  is  he  ?  " 

"He  has  not  yet  arrived,  madame,"said  Germain, 
who  had  received  strict  orders  to  name  nobody 
and  to  answer  the  young  girl  in  conformity  with 
the  ideas  she  had  formed  in  regard  to  her  journey. 

"What,  he's  not  here  yet?  and  I  believe  he 
started  before  me.  He  hasn't  come  here  directly, 
then  ?  Oh,  I  understand  !  fearing  lest  he  be  pur- 
sued, he  has  been  obliged  to  hide  and  to  make 
some  detours." 

"That's  it,  I  am  quite  sure,"  answered  the 
valet,  smiling,  "  and  I  don't  think  he  can  get  here 
before  evening." 


I40         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Poor  Urbain,  how  tiresome  to  have  to  wait 
until  this  evening.'* 

"If  madame  desires  to  follow  me,  I  will  lead 
her  to  the  apartments  which  have  been  hastily 
prepared  for  her." 

"  I'm  not  madame,  my  name  is  Blanche.  We 
are  not  yet  married,  but  as  soon  as  he  arrives  I 
hope  to  be  his  wife.  Show  me  the  way,  monsieur, 
I  will  follow  you." 

The  man  entered  a  spacious  vestibule  and 
mounted  a  marble  staircase,  then  he  led  Blanche 
through  some  superb  galleries,  along  one  side  of 
which  were  windows  of  stained  glass,  while  upon 
the  other  the  walls  were  adorned  with  pictures 
representing  the  most  pleasing  mythological  sub- 
jects. In  viewing  all  that  met  her  sight,  Blanche 
could  not  restrain  her  astonishment.  She  paused 
and  said  to  Germain,  —  in  a  voice  which  she  tried 
to  render  still  more  touching, — 

"  Monsieur,  I  beg  of  you,  tell  me  the  truth, — 
does  this  superb  dwelling  belong  to  him  ? " 

"Yes,  mademoiselle,  indeed  this  chateau  does 
belong  to  him." 

"  Ah,  I  thought  it  was  a  chateau  !  and  he  said 
he  had  only  a  little  house,  and  this  one  appears 
to  me  immense ;  he  must  be  very  rich  to  have  a 
chateau  like  this,  and  Urbain  sometimes  regretted 
that  he  had  not  a  large  fortune  to  share  with  me." 

**  Perhaps  he  wished  to  surprise  you,  made- 
moiselle.** 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      141 

"  That  was  wrong  of  him ;  rich  or  poor  I 
should  love  him  just  as  much.  Mon  Dieu  !  how 
large  it  is,  these  galleries,  these  beautiful  rooms,  we 
shall  be  lost  here ;  and  how  surprised  Marguer- 
ite will  be.  Monsieur,  are  there  cows  and  rab- 
bits here  ?  " 

**  There  shall  be  everything  here  that  you  de- 
sire, mademoiselle." 

"  Urbain  has  promised  me  a  beautiful  cow,  and 
I  should  like  to  milk  her  and  to  make  butter  and 
cheese,  that  would  be  so  amusing." 

Germain  turned  away  to  hide  his  smiles,  be- 
cause the  country  taste  of  the  young  girl  appeared 
very  singular  to  the  servant  of  the  great  noble- 
man, but  soon  he  opened  a  door  saying, — 

"  This  is  the  apartment  which  they  have  pre- 
pared for  you,  mademoiselle  ;  if  it  does  not  please 
you,  you  will  choose  any  other  in  the  chateau  and 
they  will  hasten  to  execute  your  orders.'* 

"Oh,  I  like  this  above  everything,**  said 
Blanche,  as  she  entered  a  richly  furnished  room, 
adorned  with  full-length  mirrors,  **  It  is  very  fine 
here,**  said  she,  examining  the  hangings,  draper- 
ies and  candelabras  which  ornamented  the  apart- 
ment. She  then  passed  into  a  second  room,  dec- 
orated with  the  same  sumptuousness,  in  which  was 
a  bed  hung  with  silk  curtains,  with  silver  fringe. 

"  If  he  were  here,"  said  Blanche,  sighing,  "  all 
this  would  please  me  much  better.  And  these 
windows,  what  do  they  look  on?** 


142         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Germain  hastened  to  open  the  windows  which 
were  all  provided  with  vast  balconies.  Blanche 
advanced,  and  could  not  restrain  an  exclamation 
of  pleasure  on  perceiving  a  lake  which  bathed  the 
walls  of  that  part  of  the  chateau  in  which  her 
apartments  were  situated.  The  lake  extended  into 
the  middle  of  a  wide  meadow,  and  finally  lost 
itself  in  some  rocks,  where  the  water  fell  in  a  cas- 
cade into  an  immense  basin.  On  the  right  of  the 
meadows  one  could  see  woods  and  shrubberies, 
and  on  the  other  side  the  view  extended  itself, 
far  and  wide,  over  a  country  dotted  with  hills 
which  afforded  a  charming  landscape. 

"  Oh,  how  charming  it  is,"  cried  Blanche,  "what 
a  beautiful  view  !  ** 

"  Mademoiselle  can  hardly  have  an  idea  of  what 
the  view  is  when  the  fields  are  covered  with  ver- 
dure." 

"  But  I  should  like  very  much  to  walk  in  all 
these  places  which  I  see,  to  run  in  those  meadows 
and  to  go  on  tha±  lake,  whose  waters  bathe  these 
walls  and  seem  to  me  so  pure.'* 

"  That  is  very  easy,  mademoiselle,  for  the  park 
belonging  to  this  chateau  extends  as  far  as  you 
can  see.  When  you  wish  to  visit  the  gardens,  run 
about  the  park,  or  boat  on  the  lake,  I  will  hasten 
to  attend  you." 

"  What !  does  all  that  I  see  belong  to  Urbain  ?  ** 

*'Yes,  mademoiselle,  all  that  pertains  to  the 
ch&teau." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      143 

Each  word  of  Germain  augmented  Blanche's 
surprise.  She  could  not  conceive  that  her  beloved 
could  have  deceived  her  so  far.  However,  she  had 
not  the  least  suspicion  of  the  treason  of  which  she 
was  the  victim.  The  servant  pulled  the  bell  and 
a  young  country  woman  came  into  the  room  and 
awkwardly  curtseyed  to  Blanche,  who  returned 
her  salutation  with  good  will. 

"  Mademoiselle,  this  young  girl  is  at  your 
orders.  She  will  serve  you  as  chambermaid  if  you 
are  willing  to  accept  her  services." 

"  Oh,  I  can  do  everything  for  myself  very  well ; 
I  do  not  need  anybody,  I  thank  you." 

"In  any  case,  Marie  will  come  as  soon  as  you 
ring.  Mademoiselle  must  need  rest  after  the  fatigue 
of  the  journey ;  we  will  retire." 

"  Yes,  since  he  will  not  come  until  evening  I 
will  try  to  sleep  a  little.  The  time  will  seem 
shorter." 

Germain  made  a  sign  to  Marie,  who  after  having 
made  two  other  curtseys,  left,  followed  by  the 
marquis'  valet.  Left  alone  in  her  new  apartment, 
Blanche  glanced  around  her  with  surprise.  All 
that  had  happened  to  her  since  the  evening  before 
seemed  like  a  dream.  She  paused  before  the  fur- 
niture, the  mirrors,  and  murmured,  sighing,  — 

"  All  this  belongs  to  him,  but  why  this  mys- 
tery? He  feared,  perhaps,  to  be  loved  only  for 
his  fortune.  Ah,  dear  Urbain,  it  is  you  only  whom 
I  love,  and  I  should  very  quickly  leave  this  fine 


144         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

chateau  if  it  were  necessary  for  me  to  dwell  in  it 
without  you.  But  we  shall  be  very  happy  here 
together,  although  it  will  be  rather  large  for  us 
two." 

Fatigued  by  her  journey,  Blanche  threw  herself 
upon  the  bed.  Soon  slumber  closed  her  eyes,  she 
rested  tranquilly,  believing  that  she  was  under 
Urbain's  roof. 

It  was  four  o'clock  when  the  young  girl  awak- 
ened. Her  first  care  on  rising  from  the  bed  was 
to  go  and  look  at  a  clock  on  the  mantelpiece. 

"  Evening  is  still  far  distant,"  said  she  sighing, 
"and  what  can  I  do  until  then?  It  seems  to  me 
that  I'm  lost  in  this  fine  chateau.  If  only  Mar- 
guerite were  here,  we  could  talk  about  Urbain, 
that  would  make  the  time  pass  quicker." 

In  glancing  about  the  chamber  she  perceived 
a  little  door  which  she  had  not  remarked  before; 
she  opened  it  and  found  herself  in  a  dressing-room 
where  everything  was  gathered  that  could  be  agree- 
able to  a  woman  of  fashion,  but  Blanche  looked 
indifferently  at  a  handsome  dressing-case  furnished 
with  rarely  beautiful  objects.  In  her  plans  for  a 
happy  future  she  had  seen  only  a  small  farm,  a 
stable,  a  dovecot,  and  a  garden,  and  her  mind 
could  not  become  accustomed  to  replace  it  by  the 
chateau.  She  left  the  dressing-room  and  returned 
to  the  first  room,  where  she  saw  a  table  covered 
with  all  that  could  tempt  the  appetite. 

"  How  attentive  they  are,"  said  Blanche,  "really 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       145 

they  treat  me  like  a  queen.   Urbain  must  have  told 
them  to  take  every  care  of  me." 

Blanche  rang  and  Marie  answered,  but  she  was 
followed  by  Germain,  who  did  not  wish  to  lose 
sight  of  the  chambermaid  before  the  arrival  of  his 
master  for  fear  she  might  inform  Blanche  of  that 
which  he  still  wished  to  conceal, 

"  Was  this  table  laid  for  me?"  said  Blanche. 

"  Yes,  mademoiselle,"  answered  Germain,  "  I 
thought  you  would  need  some  breakfast.  Excuse 
me  if  I  offer  you  nothing  but  that,  but  not  being 
forewarned — " 

"  Nothing  but  that !  You  are  laughing,  no 
doubt.  There  is  enough  here  to  suffice  ten  per- 
sons, and  at  M.  Touquet's  we  never  had  more 
than  two  dishes  for  our  dinner." 

Blanche  seated  herself  at  the  table.  Germain 
remained  at  some  distance,  and  Marie  served  her 
without  opening  her  mouth,  but  curtseyed  to  her 
every  time  that  she  handed  her  a  dish.  So  much 
ceremony  fatigued  the  young  girl,  who  was  accus- 
tomed to  a  simple,  frugal  life.  She  soon  left  the 
table  and  evinced  a  desire  to  walk  in  the  park. 
Germain  immediately  led  her  through  a  gallery 
and  several  passages  to  a  staircase,  at  the  foot  of 
which  was  an  entrance  to  the  gardens.  Blanche 
breathed  more  freely  in  the  meadows  than  under 
the  sculptured  ceilings  of  the  chateau.  She  left 
the  borders  of  the  lake,  crossed  a  little  wood  and 
found  herself  presently  in  what  was  designated  as 

Vol.  viu 


146         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

the  English  park,  of  which  the  paths  crossed  each 
other  and  formed  a  thousand  detours,  but  when 
Blanche  turned  she  always  saw  Germain  in  the 
distance,  who  had  never  lost  sight  of  her. 

"  He's  no  doubt  afraid  that  I  shall  lose  my- 
self," said  she,  "  this  is  all  so  vast  that  it  would 
be  easy  to  lose  one's  way." 

Blanche  returned  to  the  chateau ;  German  led 
her  back  to  her  apartments,  and  then  asked  at 
what  hour  she  wished  to  dine. 

"  I  would  much  rather  wait  and  sup  with  Ur- 
bain,  for  he  will  come  this  evening,  will  he  not, 
monsieur  ? " 

"  I  think  so,"  answered  the  valet,  bowing,  and 
he  departed,  leaving  her  sad  and  thoughtful,  for 
these  words,  "  I  think  so,"  did  not  seem  positive 
enough  for  her.  She  stationed  herself  on  one  of 
the  balconies  which  looked  on  the  lake  and  there, 
her  eyes  fixed  on  the  horizon,  gave  herself  up  to 
her  thoughts,  and  invoked  the  night  which  should 
reunite  her  with  her  lover.  Soon  her  eyes  could 
not  distinguish  distant  objects,  a  light  mist  seemed 
to  rise  and  obscure  the  scene ;  presently  the  per- 
spective diminished,  the  horizon  closed  in ;  finally, 
she  could  see  only  a  few  steps  before  her,  and 
Blanche  left  the  balcony,  saying,  — 

"  Night  is  here,  he  will  come." 

Germain  entered  the  room  and  lighted  several 
candles. 

"As  soon  as  he  arrives,"  said  Blanche  to  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       147 

man,  "  do  not  fail  to  tell  him  I  am  here  —  that 
I  am  waiting  for  him.'* 

"  His  first  care  will  be  to  seek  you,  mademoi- 
selle," answered  the  valet  smiling,  and  he  de- 
parted, inviting  Blanche  to  ring  if  she  should 
desire  anything  else. 

Had  not  Urbain's  face  been  incessantly  before 
the  mind  of  the  young  girl,  perhaps  she  would 
have  experienced  some  fear  on  finding  herself 
alone  at  night  in  a  place  which  she  hardly  knew, 
in  the  middle  of  a  room  which  seemed  to  her 
immense  in  comparison  with  the  little  room  which 
she  had  occupied  at  the  barber's,  but  love  is  the 
best  remedy  against  fear,  and  the  young  girl,  who 
would  not  go  down  into  the  cellar  without  trem- 
bling, although  she  had  a  light  in  her  hand,  would 
willingly  go  there  without  a  candle  were  she  sure 
of  finding  her  lover.     The  clock  struck  nine. 

"He  cannot  be  much  later,"  said  Blanche, 
"  provided  nothing  has  stopped  him  on  the  way, 
for  M.  Touquet  told  me  he  would  be  here  before 
me. 

She  sighed,  and  opening  a  window  went  on  to  the 
balcony  to  contemplate  the  reflection  of  the  moon 
on  the  tranquil  surface  of  the  lake  ;  she  was  aston- 
ished at  the  silence  which  reigned  in  the  chateau, 
where  everything  seemed  as  still  as  the  moonlit 
landscape.  This  profound  quietude  did  not  indi- 
cate the  arrival  of  Urbain,  and  at  that  moment 
Blanche  wished  to  hear  some  sound  which  would 


148         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

at  least  break  the  solitude  of  the  night.  She  tried 
to  console  herself  by  saying,  — 

"My  rooms  are  probably  distant  from  the  en- 
trance to  the  chateau ;  this  house  is  so  big  I  can- 
not hear  what  passes  in  other  parts  of  it." 

An  hour  rolled  by,  and  the  uneasiness,  the  sad- 
ness, which  had  taken  possession  of  the  young 
girl  caused  her  to  pass  alternately  from  her  room 
to  the  balcony.  Sometimes  she  opened  the  door 
of  her  room  and  ventured  into  the  gallery. 

Joy  and  hope  no  longer  animated  her  beautiful 
eyes,  and  she  could  hardly  restrain  her  tears.  At 
last  she  dropped  into  an  immense  easy  chair  and 
said  in  a  broken  voice,  — 

"What  new  misfortune  could  have  happened 
to  him?" 

Suddenly  a  loud  noise  was  heard.  Blanche 
rose,  listened,  and  thought  she  distinguished  the 
sound  of  carriage  wheels,  the  hoofs  of  horses,  and 
the  barking  of  dogs.  Presently  the  opening  and 
shutting  of  doors  was  heard. 

"  He  is  come,"  cried  the  young  girl,  and  she 
was  about  to  pass  along  the  gallery  to  go  and 
meet  her  lover,  but  there  was  no  light,  she  did 
not  know  the  way  and  would  become  lost  in  all 
these  immense  rooms ;  it  would  be  much  better 
to  wait  for  him  in  her  own.  She  still  listened. 
The  sound  of  wheels  had  ceased,  but  she  occa- 
sionally heard  steps  and  voices. 

"  Somebody  surely  has  arrived,"  said  Blanche. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       149 

"It  can  be  nobody  but  Urbain ;  but  why  does 
he  not  come  to  me  ?  '* 

She  ran  to  the  bell  and  pulled  the  cord  several 
times.  Nobody  came.  Greatly  astonished  at 
this,  she  was  about  to  take  a  light  and  venture 
into  the  gallery  when  hasty  steps  approached. 

"  Here  he  is  at  last,"  exclaimed  she,  running 
immediately  to  the  door,  and  remaining  motionless 
with  surprise  and  fear  on  seeing  before  her  the 
stranger  who,  on  the  preceding  night,  had  visited 
the  barber's  house. 

The  marquis  paused  on  the  doorsill.  He 
bowed  to  Blanche  with  a  look  at  once  tender  and 
respectful.  The  latter  had  hardly  recovered  from 
her  surprise,  and  looked  anxiously  into  the  gal- 
lery, saying  to  the  marquis  in  a  touching  voice,  — 

"  Is  not  Urbain  with  you  ? " 

Blanche's  accents  were  so  sweet,  her  voice  ex- 
pressed so  much  anxiety  of  mind,  that  Villebelle 
felt  profoundly  moved,  and  for  the  first  time,  per- 
haps, experienced  some  remorse  at  the  pain  which 
he  was  about  to  cause  the  young  girl.  Blanche 
repeated  her  question  in  a  supplicating  tone,  and 
the  marquis  answered,  turning  away  his  eyes,  — 

"  I  came  alone." 

**  O  monsieur,  in  mercy  tell  me  what  has  hap- 
pened to  him  ! "  exclaimed  Blanche,  approaching 
the  marquis  and  extending  her  arms  towards  him 
in  her  anxiety. 

Villebelle  looked  at  her  and  in  that  moment  the 


ISO         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

various  feelings  which  agitated  the  charming  child, 
rendered  her  still  more  seductive.  Her  eyes  were 
more  animated  than  usual,  her  lips,  half  opened, 
disclosed  two  rows  of  pearls,  and  her  hair  falling 
in  disorder  over  her  forehead,  gave  a  new  expres- 
sion to  her  angelic  face.  The  marquis  felt  his  re- 
morse vanish  at  the  sight  of  so  many  charms. 
Habituated,  besides,  to  treat  virtue  as  a  chimera 
and  constancy  as  a  folly,  he  flattered  himself  that 
he  would  soon  be  able  to  dissipate  Blanche's 
grief,  and  now,  wishing  to  undeceive  her,  he  fell 
on  his  knees,  saying,  — 

"  Deign  to  forgive  me,  lovely  girl ;  this  chateau 
belongs  to  me.  You  are  not  in  Urbain's  house, 
but  in  the  house  of  a  man  who  adores  you  and 
will  use  every  means  to  promote  your  happi- 
ness." 

Blanche  seemed  as  though  she  did  not  compre- 
hend him ;  she  looked  at  him  affrightedly,  re- 
peating,— 

"  I  am  not  at  Urbdn's  house  ?  But,  monsieur, 
where  is  he  then  ?  ** 

"  I'm  not  very  uneasy  about  that,  and  I  should 
advise  him  not  to  come  here  to  seek  you." 

"  But  it  is  with  Urbain  that  I  should  be,  mon- 
sieur. They  were  mistaken  in  bringing  me  here, 
I  said  so  at  the  time ;  I  knew  Urbain  could  not 
have  such  a  grand  house.  You  are  going  to  make 
them  take  me  away  immediately,  are  you  not, mon- 
sieur ? " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       151 

"  No,  my  dear  child,  it  was  I  who  caused  you 
to  be  abducted  and  I  will  yield  you  to  nobody." 

"Abducted  ? "  she  cried, "  what  are  you  saying ? 
Urbain  had  fought  a  duel  and  had  to  flee,  that  is 
why  I  started  in  the  middle  of  the  night." 

"It  was  necessary  to  tell  you  that,  in  order  that 
you  might  leave  willingly." 

"  O  my  God  !  could  that  be  so  ?  But,  no,  it  was 
my  protector,  it  was  M.  Touquet  himself,  who  put 
me  in  the  carriage." 

"  Yes,  adorable  Blanche,  it  was  your  protector, 
it  was  the  honest  Touquet  who  aided  my  plans 
and  gave  you  up  to  my  love." 

The  frightful  truth  flashed  into  her  mind,  her 
knees  failed  her,  the  color  left  her  cheeks,  and 
without  uttering  a  single  cry  she  was  about  to  fall 
upon  the  floor.  Happily  the  marquis  received 
her  in  his  arms,  he  laid  her  on  the  bed  and  rang 
the  bell  violently.  Germain  immediately  appeared. 

"  Call  someone,  call  for  help,"  said  the  marquis, 
greatly  agitated,  "  she  has  lost  consciousness.  Is 
there  not  a  woman  here  in  the  chateau  ?  " 

"  Pardon  me,  monseigneur."  Germain  called 
Marie,  and  the  stout  country  girl  came  running. 

"Give  all  your  care  to  this  young  girl,"  said  the 
marquis  to  the  woman, "  and  do  not  leave  her  for 
an  instant.  If  she  is  long  in  coming  to  her  senses, 
send  me  word." 

"  Very  well,  monseigneur,"  said  Marie,  curtsey- 
ing, and  Villebelle  left  the  room  with  Germain. 


152         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  marquis,  fatigued  by  his  rapid  journey  from 
Paris,  threw  himself  upon  a  lounge  as  soon  as  he 
reached  his  apartment,  and  while  Germain  relieved 
him  of  his  travelling  dress  he  inquired  as  to  what 
Blanche  had  said  and  done  since  her  arrival. 

"  Monseigneur,"  said  Germain,  "  she  believed 
that  she  was  at  the  house  of  M.  Urbain,  and  fol- 
lowing your  orders  I  have  not  undeceived  her." 

"  She  appears  to  love  him  more  than  I  had  be- 
lieved," said  Villebelle,  sighing. 

"*Tis  but  the  love  of  a  young  girl,  monsei- 
gneur,  a  fierce  fire,  which  soon  burns  itself  out.'* 

"  May  what  you  say  be  true,  but  Blanche  bears 
no  resemblance  to  other  women  whom  I  have  seen 
up  to  this  day.  There  is  about  her  a  candor,  a 
frankness,  finally,  a  something,  I  know  not  what, 
which  commands  respect.  I  cannot  explain  to  you 
the  feeling  with  which  she  inspires  me.  Her  tears 
sear  my  heart.  I  wish  to  win  her  love  by  the  at- 
tentions which  I  shall  lavish  upon  her.  It  will 
take  some  time,  perhaps ;  but  no  matter,  I  feel 
capable  of  restraining  my  passion,  of  submitting 
to  everything  which  she  may  exact  of  me.  You 
see,  Germain,  that  I  am  truly  in  love,  for  I  no 
longer  recognize  self,  and  near  Blanche  I  feel  as 
timid  as  a  child." 

"We  must  see  if  that  will  last,  monseigneur." 

"  Ah,  you  don't  understand  what  I  experience. 
Germain,  you  must  start  tomorrow  morning  for 
Paris ;  I  will  give  you  what  money  is  necessary. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       153 

and  you  will  bring  back  everything  you  can  find 
of  the  prettiest  and  newest  in  ornaments,  stuffs, 
and  jewels.  Spare  nothing,  that  we  may  find 
something  to  please  Blanche.** 

"  Rely  on  me,  monseigneur.** 

"  How  many  servants  are  in  the  chateau  ?  *' 

"  The  old  porter,  who  never  leaves  his  door, 
believing  himself  the  guardian  of  a  citadel;  his 
daughter  Marie,  whom  monseigneur  saw  just  now, 
and  who  is  the  only  woman  I  found  at  the  cha- 
teau.'* 

"  Is  she  capable  of  waiting  on  Blanche?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  monseigneur,  she's  rather  stupid, 
rather  awkward,  but  very  faithful  and  obedient. 
Her  father  answered  to  me  for  that;  besides. 
Mademoiselle  Blanche  seemed  to  prefer  to  do 
without  a  chambermaid." 

"  Well,  go  on." 

"  The  gardener,  an  old  idiot,  who  knows  noth- 
ing except  plants.  As  to  the  country  people  whom 
we  employ,  they  never  come  inside  the  house. 
Oh,  I  forgot,  an  old  cook  and  cellarman,  very 
drunken,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  but  he  is  never  per- 
mitted to  leave  his  kitchen  and,  in  the  absence  of 
his  masters,  shuts  himself  up  in  the  cellars." 

"  That  is  well,  but  it  is  necessary  to  have  some 
people  here  who  can  watch  Blanche  or  else  she 
will  doubtless  find  some  way  to  escape,  if,  in  time, 
she  should  form  such  a  plan,  and  I  brought  from 
Paris  two  lackeys  who  will  acquit  themselves  per- 


154         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

fectly  in  this  employment.  Ah,  Germain,  if  I  can 
only  make  Blanche  love  me,  how  happy  I  shall 
be ;  but  I  am  anxious  to  have  news  of  her,  go 
down  and  call  Marie,  I  cannot  remain  in  this 
anxiety." 

Germain  went  down,  but  soon  returned  with  the 
young  peasant,  who  had  already  left  Blanche. 

"  Well,  how  is  she  ?  " 

"  That  young  lady,  monseigneur  ?  ** 

«  Certainly." 

"  Oh,  she  returned  to  her  senses  some  time  ago, 
monseigneur." 

"  And  what  did  she  say  then  ? " 

"  On  my  word,  monseigneur,  lots  of  things  that 
I  couldn't  understand — Oh,  wait,  I  remember, 
she  asked  me  if  you  were  master  of  the  chateau, 
and  as  soon  as  I  said  *  Yes,*  she  began  to  cry." 

"  She  wept  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  monseigneur,  she  did  nothing  else, 
and  then  she  asked  me  your  name." 

"  What  did  you  answer  ?  " 

"  Mercy,  I  said  that  you  were  called  monsei- 
gneur le  marquis." 

"  She  asked  you  no  other  questions  ? " 

"  No,  monseigneur." 

"  And  why  did  you  leave  her  ?  " 

"  Monseigneur,  it  was  because  she  told  me  she 
would  like  me  to  leave  her." 

The  marquis  signed  to  them  to  leave  him.  He 
did  not  wish  anyone  to  witness  the  emotion  which 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      155 

he  felt.  It  gave  him  satisfaction  to  know  that 
Blanche  was  within  his  walls,  but  the  sorrow  which 
she  showed  disturbed  his  content.  He  dared  not 
go  back  to  her  yet,  deeming  it  wiser  to  allow  her 
time  to  recover  from  the  first  pangs  of  her  grief. 
He  threw  himself  upon  his  bed,  but  he  could  not 
sleep.  The  image  of  Blanche  was  incessantly  be- 
fore his  eyes,  and  with  her  came  the  remembrance 
of  the  many  errors  of  his  youth  which  he  wished 
in  vain  to  drive  from  his  mind. 

While  Villebelle  endeavored  to  account  for  his 
insomnia  and  agitation  by  attributing  it  to  love, 
Blanche  passed  in  tears  that  night  which  she  had 
awaited  with  so  much  impatience.  Convinced  at 
last  that  she  was  in  the  power  of  the  man  to  whom 
the  barber  had  delivered  her,  she  felt  all  the  hor- 
ror of  her  situation  ;  but  accustomed  by  Marguer- 
ite to  put  all  her  confidence  in  a  Supreme  Being, 
and  to  have  no  doubt  of  His  power,  she  prayed 
and  besought  Heaven  to  reunite  her  with  Urbain. 
Upon  her  knees,  her  hands  raised  toward  Heaven, 
and  her  eyes  bathed  in  tears,  she  passed  part  of 
the  night,  and  morning  found  her  still  so  occupied. 

Marie  came  to  take  her  orders.  Blanche  wished 
for  nothing,  she  desired  nothing  but  her  liberty, 
and,  in  answer  to  that  request,  Marie  brought  her 
breakfast.  An  hour  later  the  marquis  entered  the 
room.  Blanche  did  not  see  him ;  she  was  seated 
with  her  head  supported  by  one  of  her  hands  and 
appeared  absorbed  in  sorrow. 


156         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

VlUebelle  signed  to  Marie  to  leave  them,  and 
looked  for  some  moments  in  silence  at  this  young 
girl  who  had  been,  since  the  evening  before,  re- 
duced to  despair  because  she  was  pretty  and  had 
had  the  misfortune  to  please  a  rich  and  powerful 
man,  who  thought  that  she  should  be  only  too 
happy  to  be  the  object  of  his  passion.  However 
the  change  which  had  taken  place  in  Blanche's 
features,  her  eyes  reddened  and  still  filled  with 
tears,  made  a  painful  impression  upon  the  great 
nobleman.  He  would  have  preferred  reproaches 
rather  than  this  silent  grief.  He  drew  nearer,  that 
his  victim  might  perceive  his  presence. 

Blanche  raised  her  eyes  and  looked  at  the  mar- 
quis, showing  only  a  slight  uneasiness,  and  let  her 
head  fall  again  upon  her  hand.  Villebelle  had 
expected  complaints  and  reproaches.  Surprised 
at  this  silence  he  took  a  chair,  and  seated  himself 
near  Blanche,  who  remained  silent  and  continued 
to  weep. 

"  Are  you  so  very  unhappy  then  ? "  said  the 
marquis  at  last,  with  emotion ;  and  Blanche  an- 
swered sobbing,  but  with  the  sweet  tone  which 
never  left  her, — 

"  Yes,  monsieur." 

"  Can  you  regret  the  barber's  gloomy  house 
where  you  never  had  any  pleasure  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  the  house  that  I  regret,  monsieur.** 

"  Here  there  is  nothing  to  hinder  you  from 
being  the  most  happy  woman ;  all  your  desires 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       157 

shall  be  laws  here,  you  shall  have  the  most  beau- 
tiful ornaments,  the  richest  jewelry." 

"  I  don't  wish  for  them,  monsieur." 

**  You  will  not  always  think  so,  my  dear  child. 
Formed  to  please,  to  attract  homage,  one  day  by 
your  features  and  your  toilets  you  will  eclipse  the 
most  seductive  ladies  of  Paris." 

"  I  don't  understand  you,  monsieur." 

"  Forget  the  years  passed  in  retirement  and 
commence  a  new  life.  This  dwelling  shall  be- 
come a  place  of  delight ;  parties  and  pleasures 
shall  succeed  each  other  here  without  interruption 
as  soon  as  your  beautiful  eyes  repay  my  efforts 
with  a  smile.  The  barber  did  not  deserve  your 
friendship  ;  the  wretch  would  not  have  brought 
you  up  had  it  not  been  for  his  interest  to  do  so ; 
you  may  dismiss  all  thoughts  of  gratitude  from 
your  heart.  As  to  the  young  man  to  whom  he 
wished  to  marry  you,  he  is  but  a  boy,  somebody 
has  told  me,  and  will  soon  forget  you." 

"  Urbain  forget  me  ! "  cried  Blanche,  starting 
convulsively.  Then  she  said  in  a  calmer  tone, 
falling  back  in  her  chair,  — 

"No,  monsieur,  Urbain  will. not  forget  me,  for 
I  feel  sure  I  shall  love  him  always,  and  our  hearts 
had  but  a  single  thought." 

The  marquis  rose,  greatly  annoyed,  and  walked 
about  the  room.     In  a  moment  he  said, — 

"It is,  however,  useless,  mademoiselle,  to  nour- 
ish a  sentiment  which  must  henceforth  be  hope- 


158         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

less,  for  you  shall  never  more  see  this  Urbain, 
whom  I  hate  without  knowing." 

Blanche  looked  supplicatingly  at  the  marquis, 
approached  him  and  threw  herself  on  her  knees, 
saying,  in  a  voice  broken  by  sobs, — 

"  Monsieur,  what  have  I  done  to  you  that  you 
should  punish  me  like  this?  If,  unknowingly, 
I  have  been  guilty  of  any  fault,  forgive  me,  I  beg 
of  you,  but  do  not  separate  me  from  Urbain." 

"  Rise,  I  beseech  you,"  said  Villebelle,  who 
yielded  in  spite  of  himself  to  the  emotion  which 
he  felt.  "  No,  you  are  not  guilty,  lovely  girl,  it 
is  I,  I  alone ;  yes,  I  am  a  monster  to  make  you 
shed  tears.  Ah,  why  did  I  ever  see  you — but  you 
are  so  pretty  !  " 

"  Monsieur,  has  any  one  the  right  to  shut  up 
a  girl  because  she  is  pretty  ?  If  you  punish  me 
by  shutting  me  up  a  prisoner  in  your  chateau, 
that  should  be  forbidden.  Is  it  permitted  to  a 
great  nobleman  to  torment  poor  people  at  his 
will  ?  O  my  God  !  and  the  talisman  which  Mar- 
guerite gave  me  to  preserve  me  from  all  dan- 
ger !  O  poor  Marguerite  !  if  she  only  knew  how 
unfortunate  I  am." 

"  Oh,  well,"  said  he,  leaning  towards  Blanche, 
"  since  you  hate  me,  since  I  am  only  an  object  of 
dislike  to  you  —  " 

"  I  hate  you  !  "  said  the  innocent  child,  raising 
her  sweet  eyes  to  his.  "  Oh,  no,  monsieur,  don't 
believe  that ;  despite  all  the  grief  you  have  caused 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       159 

me,  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  but  I  feel  that  I  should 
like  to  forgive  you,  I  feel  that  I  could  even  love 
you." 

"  You  could  love  me,  delightful  girl,"  exclaimed 
the  marquis,  intoxicated  by  these  words.  "O 
heavens,  she  could  love  me  and  I  was  just  about 
to  consent  —  oh,  never ;  rather  would  I  die  than 
lose  you  or  yield  you  to  another.  You  have 
given  me  a  foretaste  of  so  much  happiness  that 
the  idea  of  it  alone  transports  me.  Blanche, 
Blanche,  I  shall  do  everything  to  merit  the  love 
which  you  allow  me  to  hope  for,  but  to  renounce 
you  —  ah,  that  is  henceforth  impossible.  I  must 
leave  you,  that  I  may  not  see  those  tears  which 
make  me  detest  my  love." 

Villebelle  left  precipitantly.  Blanche  looked 
after  him  in  surprise,  understanding  nothing  of 
the  transport  which  he  had  shown.  She  was  far 
from  conceiving  that  she  had  riveted  her  chains 
in  confessing  to  the  marquis  that  she  had  a  feel- 
ing of  friendship  for  him.  Her  pure  heart  did 
not  know  how  to  feign,  and  the  feeling  which  she 
wished  to  give  to  the  marquis  was  so  different 
from  the  love  she  had  for  Urbain  that  she  saw  no 
harm  in  allowing  it  to  appear.  But  Villebelle  did 
not  know  how  to  read  this  ingenuous  heart.  He 
imagined  that  Blanche  was  about  to  respond  to 
his  love,  and  did  not  doubt  but  that  he  should,  in 
time,  cause  her  to  forget  Urbain. 

The  day  rolled  by  without  the  marquis  again 


i6o         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

approaching  Blanche.  The  latter  tried  to  sum- 
mon her  courage,  but  could  not  persuade  herself 
that  the  marquis  had  any  intention  except  to  keep 
her  prisoner,  and  she  had  recourse  to  her  talis- 
man, hoping  by  means  of  it  to  abridge  her  sojourn 
in  the  chateau.  In  the  afternoon,  Blanche  asked 
Marie  the  way  into  the  park,  and  the  stout  peas- 
ant hastened  to  lead  her  to  the  entrance,  where 
she  left  her,  making  a  curtsey.  Despite  her  in- 
nocent air,  the  country  girl  understood  that  her 
lord  was  in  love  with  the  young  damsel.  Marie 
had  remarked  Blanche's  red  eyes,  and  heard  her 
deep  sighs,  and,  while  leaving  her,  she  said  to 
herself,  — 

**  Zooks  !  if  monseigneur  was  in  love  with  me, 
that  would  not  make  me  cry ;  far  otherwise." 

Although  she  was  alone  in  the  park,  Blanche 
did  not  even  conceive  the  idea  of  seeking  to  re- 
cover her  liberty.  She  did  not  know  the  way,  and 
was  ignorant  as  to  what  place  she  was  in,  and  how 
far  from  Paris.  She  felt  that  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  leave  without  again  falling  into  the  power 
of  the  marquis,  and  she  resigned  herself  to  wait 
until  he  should  send  her  to  her  lover.  She  did 
not  suppose  the  marquis  capable  of  keeping  her 
always  a  prisoner,  and  did  not  yet  divine  all  the 
dangers  which  surrounded  her  in  the  chateau. 

Villebelle,  learning  that  Blanche  was  in  the 
park,  hastened  to  join  her  there,  and  the  young 
girl  received  him  almost  smiling,  and  although 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      i6i 

her  features  still  wore  a  plaintive  expression,  she 
chatted  with  him  on  the  objects  which  surrounded 
them,  and  answered  him  with  her  accustomed 
sweetness  and  grace.  This  conduct  appeared  so 
extraordinary  to  the  marquis  that  he  regarded 
Blanche  with  as  much  astonishment  as  love. 
However,  far  from  emboldening  him,  he  felt  for 
her  a  most  profound  respect,  and  dared  not  speak 
of  his  love,  and,  not  understanding  the  power 
which  the  child  exerted  over  him,  he  remained  for 
some  time  silent  and  thoughtful,  walking  at  her 
side. 

The  next  day  Marie  carried  into  Blanche's 
room  the  things  which  Germain  had  brought 
from  Paris  ;  an  infinite  quantity  of  those  charming 
nothings  invented  so  that  rich  men  may  more 
easily  spend  their  money.  The  stout  peasant 
looked  on  each  object  with  ecstasy,  while  Blanche 
hardly  took  the  trouble  to  look  at  them. 

The  marquis  came  to  see  his  young  captive,  and 
perceived  that  she  had  not  touched  his  presents. 

"  Do  you  disdain  that  which  I  am  so  happy  to 
offer  you  ?  "  said  he  to  Blanche. 

"  I  don't  wish  for  any  of  those  things,"  an- 
swered she,  sighing.  "  I  do  not  need  all  of  these 
ornaments  in  order  to  please  Urbain.  What 
would  he  say  if  he  saw  me  in  them  ? " 

"  Still  thinking  of  Urbain  ?  Have  I  not  told 
you,  mademoiselle,  that  you  will  not  see  him 
agam  r 

Vol.  VIII 


i62         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Yes,  but  I  don't  think  you're  so  wicked  as  you 
wish  to  appear.  How  would  it  help  you  always 
to  vex  me  so  ? " 

"  Blanche,  have  you  not  confessed  that  you  were 
not  far  from  loving  me  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  I  still  feel  the  same.  With  Urbain 
and  you  I  should  be  very  happy." 

**  May  I  not  hope  by  the  ardor  of  my  atten- 
tions, my  love,  that  I  may  cause  you  to  forget  a 
first  fancy,  and  that  I  alone  shall  occupy  your 
heart?" 

"  You  don't  understand  me,  monsieur.  I  love 
Urbain  as  my  lover,  my  husband ;  and  you  —  I 
should  like  —  I  don't  know,  it  seems  to  me  that 
I  could  with  pleasure  call  you  my  brother  —  or 
my  father." 

This  confession  did  not  entirely  satisfy  Ville- 
belle,  but  he  hoped  everything  from  time  and  the 
constancy  of  his  attentions. 

Towards  evening  Blanche  again  went  into  the 
park,  and  as  on  the  previous  evening  the  marquis 
joined  her.  He  walked  near  her,  feeling  his  love 
increase  every  moment.  The  marquis  could  not 
recognize  himself.  This  libertine,  this  seducer, 
who  had  triumphed  over  the  most  rebellious  beau- 
ties, had  become  timid  and  fearful  before  a  child 
who  had  no  other  safeguards  than  her  innocence 
and  her  virtue. 

Twelve  days  had  passed  since  Blanche  had 
come  to  the  Chateau  de  Sarcus,  and  had  wrought 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       163 

no  change  in  the  situation.  Every  morning  the 
marquis  paid  her  a  visit,  but  when,  yielding  to  the 
grief  which  she  experienced  on  being  separated 
from  him  she  loved,  the  sweet  child  allowed  her 
tears  to  flow,  the  marquis  left  her  abruptly.  In 
the  evening  they  walked  together  in  the  park,  but 
often  in  silence  or  exchanging  only  a  few  words. 
Blanche  dreamed  of  Urbain,  and  Villebelle,  satis- 
fied in  being  near  her,  had  not  yet  conceived 
guilty  designs. 

At  the  end  of  this  time,  a  message  from  Paris 
apprised  the  marquis  that  his  uncle  was  very  ill, 
and  desired  to  see  him  before  he  died.  Ville- 
belle, the  sole  heir  of  this  relative,  who  was  very 
rich,  was  obliged  to  go  to  him,  and  decided,  al- 
though with  regret,  to  leave  Blanche  for  some 
days.  He  took  Germain  with  him,  but  the  men 
servants  whom  he  left  at  the  chateau  had  received 
their  instructions ;  besides  the  sad  Blanche  had  no 
idea  of  escaping.  The  marquis  judged  it  better 
not  to  forewarn  the  young  girl  of  his  departure  i^ 
and  he  left  the  chateau  more  in  love  than  ever, 
and  vowing  to  hasten  his  return. 


CHAPTER   IX 
The  Meeting.     Projects  of    Revenge 

We  left  our  disconsolate  young  lover  at  the 
moment  when  he  was  about  to  seat  himself  upon 
a  huge  stone,  and  was  arrested  in  the  act  of  doing 
so  by  an  exclamation  uttered  by  an  unseen  man. 

The  words  pronounced  by  this  individual  have 
no  doubt  already  caused  the  reader  to  recognize 
our  Chaudoreille,  who  had  remained  in  the  place 
where  the  robbers,  disguised  as  chair  porters,  had 
left  him. 

Urbain  was  startled  on  hearing  himself  thus 
addressed,  but  being  one  of  those  persons  who 
arc  insensible  to  fear,  he  calmly  seated  himself  on 
the  stone,  saying, — 

"  Pardon  me,  monsieur,  I  did  not  see  you." 

Chaudoreille  half  rose,  looked  at  Urbain,  and 
began  to  feel  reassured.  Besides,  what  had  he  to 
fear  now  ?  His  money  was  gone  and  his  costume 
would  not  be  likely  to  tempt  robbers.  Rolande, 
it  is  true,  was  still  left  him,  for  the  thieves  had 
perceived  that  in  his  hands  the  weapon  was  not 
dangerous, 

**  By  jingo  !  you  woke  me  up,  comrade ;  and  I 
was  having  a  delightful  dream.    I  still  had  the  two 

164 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      165 

thousand  livres  of  gold  in  my  pockets,  when  I 
awakened  to  the  sad  reality.  O  thousand  million 
mustaches !  The  thieves,  the  scoundrels !  they 
have  taken  everything  from  me.  I've  had  a  fine 
experience ;  I  don't  own  so  much  as  an  obole. 
O  death !    O  fury  !  O  despair ! " 

Chaudoreille  again  threw  himself  upon  the 
ground,  and  pulled  two  or  three  hairs  from  his 
mustache.  Feeling  that  this  would  not  restore  his 
crowns,  he  quieted  himself,  and  again  looked  at 
Urbain,  who  was  sighing  deeply,  and  appeared  to 
pay  no  attention  to  the  despair  of  the  despoiled 
man. 

"  What  the  deuce !  this  is  a  taciturn  fellow," 
said  the  Gascon  to  himself ;  and  then  he  again  ad- 
dressed Urbain. 

"I'll  wager  that  you  have  been  robbed,  also, 
comrade.  This  town  is  indeed  infested  with  thieves 
and  bandits ;  one  is  safe  only  in  the  midst  of  a 
patrol,  and  yet  one  can't  be  proud  of  the  watch. 
It  was  that  cursed  theatre  brought  this  misfortune 
upon  me ;  those  wretched  comedians  at  the  Hotel 
de  Bourgogne  dared  to  mock  at  a  gentleman  of 
my  race.  Ah,  Turlupin,  my  friend,  I'll  get  even 
with  you.  Tomorrow  I'll  lay  a  complaint  before 
the  criminal  magistrate,  and  I'll  put  you  and  Gau- 
tier-Garguille  in  a  dungeon.  But,  alas,  that  won't 
restore  my  two  hundred  pistoles.  I'll  wager  you 
haven't  as  much  on  you,  comrade — hey?  By 
jingo,  you  sigh  as  though  they  had  despoiled  you 


i66         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

of  the  towers  of  Notre-Dame.  Were  you  robbed 
in  a  sedan  chair?  " 

A  deep  sigh  was  Urbain's  only  response ;  then 
he  murmured  to  himself, — 

"  Alas,  I  have  lost  her  forever  1  " 

"  I  was  sure  he'd  lost  his  purse,"  said  Chaudo- 
reille, "  or  rather,  that  some  one  had  taken  it  from 
him.  Did  you  lose  it  in  this  neighborhood,  com- 
rade ? " 

Urbain  looked  at  him  in  surprise,  then  he 
said,  — 

"  I  don't  know  where  she  can  be.  I  have  been 
running  all  over  Paris  since  eight  o'clock,  and  I 
have  learned  nothing." 

"  If  you  only  had  a  lantern,  that  would  help 
you  —  was  it  very  large?  If  we  recover  it  full, 
comrade,  you  must  share  it  with  me.  That's  un- 
derstood." 

Urbain  rose  and  seized  Chaudoreille  by  the 
throat,  and  holding  him  tightly  to  the  ground,  ex- 
claimed, — 

"  Wretch !  do  you  dare  to  insult  my  sorrow  ? 
If  I  should  listen  to  my  anger  —  " 

"  O  mercy  !  do  not  listen  to  it,  I  beg  of  you. 
Ugh,  I  can't  bear  it  any  longer.  What  the  devil 
sort  of  man  are  you  ?  Did  you  come  from  the 
Chateau  de  Vincennes  ?  Because  I  offer  to  help  you 
look  for  your  lost  purse,  you  try  to  strangle  me  ! " 

"  My  purse  ?  what,  you  were  talking  about 
money  ?  " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       167 

"  How  could  I  talk  about  anything  else  after 
having  had  so  much  of  it  as  I  have." 

**  Excuse  me,  monsieur,  I  didn't  understand 
you." 

"  Tm  beginning  to  see  that ;  but,  by  jingo,  we 
were  nearly  choked,  that  is  to  say,  you  choked 
me.  What  a  grip  you  have,  it's  like  mine  when 
I  hold  Rolande.  It  appears  that  it's  not  money 
you've  lost,  then  ?  " 

"  O  monsieur,  would  to  heaven  it  were !  I 
would  give  all  I  possess  to  recover  her  whom 
I  adore  —  she  who  was  about  to  become  my 
wife!" 

**  Poor  simpleton,"  said  Chaudoreille  to  him- 
self, "  it's  on  account  of  a  woman  that  he's  lament- 
ing thus.  He  doesn't  know  what  it  is  to  lose  two 
hundred  pistoles,  without  counting  the  small 
change.  But  since  he's  not  been  robbed,  I'll  try 
to  make  him  useful  —  if  I  could  replenish  my 
pockets  by  helping  him  to  find  his  lass  ! " 

The  chevalier  rose,  and  seating  himself  on  a 
stone  near  Urbain,  said  to  him,  in  a  feeling 
voice, — 

"  Tell  me  your  troubles,  young  man,  I'm  the 
protector  of  everything  in  nature  that  suffers  —  in 
consideration  of  a  slight  gratuity;  but  I  never 
charge  anything,  trusting  to  the  generosity  of 
those  whom  I  oblige." 

"  What  could  you  do  for  me,  monsieur  ?  I  have 
not  the  least  trace  of  the  abductors,  nor  of  the 


i68         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

route  they  have  taken.  Oh,  I  feel  that  courage 
has  abandoned  me." 

"  What  a  thing  to  say,  young  man !  Courage 
should  never  leave  you.  For  shame !  —  in  all 
the  phases  of  life  it  is  courage  which  makes  us 
equal  the  gods,  who,  in  truth,  should  not  fear  death 
itself,  since  they  are  immortal.  But  to  return  to 
you.  If  you  have  money  it  is  always  a  resource. 
I  shall  help  you  to  find  your  sweetheart ;  two  of 
my  friends  are  detectives,  that  is  to  say,  they  oper- 
ate as  amateurs  for  the  good  of  humanity.  Tell 
me  in  what  neighborhood  did  the  little  one  live  ?  *' 

"  In  the  Rue  des  Bourdonnais,  with  the  barber 
Touquet,  who  brought  her  up." 

"At  the  barber's  ?  Rue  des  Bourdonnais — and 
your  sweetheart  is  named  Blanche  ?  " 

"  Yes,  monsieur,  do  you  know  her  ?  Oh,  pray 
tell  me." 

"  One  moment,  one  moment,  my  young  friend. 
Hang  it !  this  is  an  event  for  which  I  —  give  us 
your  hand ;  by  jingo,  you're  very  fortunate  to 
have  met  me." 

"What!  can  you  help  me  to  find  Blanche?" 
and  Urbain  threw  himself  on  Chaudoreille's  neck. 

**  This  young  man  is  the  one  Blanche  was  going 
to  marry,"  said  the  Gascon  to  himself,  as  he  dis- 
engaged himself  from  Urbain's  grasp.  "  It  appears 
as  though  the  marquis  had  already  carried  the  lit- 
tle one  off;  but  he  has  paid  me,  I  have  nothing 
more  to  hope  for  from  him ;  so  I  must  turn  to  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      169 

young  lover's  side.  However,  I  shall  be  prudent 
and  not  let  him  know  who  I  am,  nor  what  I  have 
done  in  this  intrigue." 

Urbain  pressed  Chaudoreille  to  explain  himself, 
and  the  latter  answered,  in  a  mysterious  tone, — 

"  I  am  acquainted  with  neither  Blanche  nor  the 
barber,  but  one  of  my  friends  goes  often  to  Tou- 
quet's  shop.  I  remember  now  that  he  has  often 
spoken  to  me  of  your  approaching  marriage." 

"That's  singular!  M.  Touquet  advised  the 
greatest  secrecy,  and  he  himself —  " 

"  But,  you  see,  some  one  must  have  spoken  of 
it,  since  I  know  it.  But  a  man  of  high  rank,  a 
great  nobleman,  was  in  love  with  your  promised 
wife." 

"  A  great  nobleman  !  what  is  his  name  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  yet,  but  I  shall  learn  it." 

"  And  you  are  sure  of  this  ?  " 

"  Oh,  very  sure ;  and  it  must  be  this  nobleman 
who  has  taken  away  your  sweetheart." 

"  I  entreat  you  to  let  me  know  his  name." 

**  Tomorrow,  that  is,  to  say,  this  evening,  I  hope 
to  learn  it.  But  be  prudent,  young  man,  and  do 
not  compromise  me.  I  expose  myself  to  great 
risk  in  thus  helping  you." 

"  Monsieur,  you  may  count  on  my  gratitude." 

"  I  will  count  on  it,  you  may  be  sure." 

"And  I  may  expect  the  information  this  even- 
ing?" 

"Yes:  be  near  the  Porte  Montmartre  at  nine 


I70         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

o'clock  this  evening.  Take  care  to  bring  along 
with  you  all  the  money  you  can  get  together,  and 
I  will  tell  you  all  I  have  learned." 

"  Enough  !    Oh,  that  evening  were  here  —  " 

"And,  while  waiting  for  it,  I  shall  have  need 
of  some  crowns  to  give  to  the  friend  of  whom  I 
spoke  to  you,  and  my  pockets  are  empty  because 
I  have  been  robbed  so  much." 

"Here  is  all  that  I  have  upon  me,  monsieur; 
take  it,  I  beg  of  you." 

"  Very  willingly,  my  young  friend,"  said  Chau- 
doreille;  "but  day  is  dawning;  we  must  part 
until  this  evening,  at  the  Porte  Montmartre." 

"  Oh,  I  shan't  fail  to  be  there,  monsieur." 

"  And  don't  forget  anything  I  have  told  you. 
Good-by  ;  I'm  going  to  work  for  you." 

Chaudoreille  departed,  and  Urbain,  slightly 
restored  by  the  hope  imparted  to  him  by  this 
man,  went  to  his  dwelling  that  he  might  there 
wait  for  evening. 

While  walking  alongside  the  Pont-Neuf,  the 
Gascon  said  to  himself, — 

"It  seems  to  me  that  the  marquis  did  the  busi- 
ness very  quickly.  The  little  one  is  abducted ; 
this  rascal  of  a  Touquet  is  in  connivance  with  the 
marquis,  I  am  certain.  I  must  be  audacious  now ; 
the  marquis  is  incapable  of  speaking  of  me ;  I 
must  go  to  Touquet's  house  without  appearing 
to  know  anything,  and  see  what  he  will  say  to  me ; 
besides,  from  prudential  motives  I  shall  remain 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      171 

in  the  shop,  and  the  first  angry  movement  that  I 
see  him  make,  I  will  spring  out  of  the  door  and 
draw  a  hundred  people  around  me." 

This  plan  settled,  Chaudoreille  began  by  going 
into  the  first  eating-house  which  he  saw,  and,  for 
fear  of  being  again  robbed,  ate  and  drank  to 
the  extent  of  all  the  money  which  Urbain  had 
given  him.  It  was  nearly  ten  o'clock  when  he 
left  the  table.  This  was  the  time  when  the  bar- 
ber's was  always  the  most  crowded,  and  it  was  the 
moment  which  Chaudoreille  chose  to  go  there. 
Before  he  went  into  the  shop,  he  ascertained  that 
Touquet  was  not  alone ;  then  he  presented  him- 
self, and  wished  him  good  morning  with  a  wheed- 
ling air.  The  barber  answered  in  his  customary 
tone.  Nothing  in  his  manner  indicated  that  he 
had  any  suspicion,  and  Chaudoreille  was  reas- 
sured. However,  when  they  were  alone  he  did 
not  lose  sight  of  the  door,  while  asking  indiflfer- 
ently  if  there  was  any  news. 

"Everything  is  finished,"  said  the  barber, "  they 
are  married,  they  are  gone,  and  I  hope  I  shall 
hear  nothing  further." 

"Oh,  they  are  married,"  said  Chaudoreille, 
compressing  his  lips,  "the  little  one  has  a  hus- 
band.    Her  little  lover  ? " 

"Why,  of  course,"  answered  Touquet,  brusque- 
ly.    "  What  is  there  surprising  to  you  in  that  ? " 

**  Me  ?  By  jingo !  I*m  no  more  surprised 
than  a  fly." 


172         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Wait,  here  is  what  I  promised  you.  I  intend 
shortly  to  sell  this  house,  and  to  retire  from  busi- 
ness. I  have  no  further  need  of  your  visits; 
you  have  no  more  music  lessons  to  give  here,  so 
you  need  not  take  the  trouble  to  come  again. 
Good-by,  I  will  make  you  a  present  of  all  the 
shaves  for  which  you  owe  me." 

"  Very  much  obliged,  my  dear  friend,  may  I 
be  able  to  prove  all  my  gratitude  to  you  some 
day." 

So  saying,  Chaudoreille  passed  through  the 
doorway,  and  departed  from  the  barber's  house. 

"He  forbids  me  to  return  to  his  house,"  said 
the  Gascon.  "That's  very  polite.  The  rascal 
is  afraid  that  I  shall  meet  the  marquis  there.  The 
latter  probably  ordered  him  to  share  with  me  the 
gratuity  he  gave  him  on  receiving  the  pretty  little 
sweetheart  at  his  hands  ;  but  patience  !  if  you  are 
a  scoundrel,  my  dear  Touquet,  I  flatter  myself 
that  I  am  also  an  adroit  enough  chap.  I  have  no 
desire  to  return  into  your  hornets'  nest.  Come, 
Chaudoreille,  we  must  show  some  genius  here, 
my  friend.  I  must  set  to  work  to  repair  last 
night's  losses  and  to  make  my  fortune  over  again. 
Devil  take  me,  though,  if  I  ever  again  take  a 
sedan  chair.  First  I'll  go  to  the  little  house  in 
the  Faubourg  and  learn  from  Marcel  if  it  was 
there  that  the  marquis  led  Blanche ;  after  that  I 
shall  come  back  into  Paris  and  go  to  our  jealous 
Italian's  house ;  there  I  shall  tell  her  all  about  it. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       173 

—  I  shall  tell  her  all  about  it !  She'll  go  into 
convulsions  over  it.  Finally,  I'll  keep  the  ap- 
pointment I  made  with  the  young  lover,  and  after 
having  made  him  pay  me  well,  I'll  tell  him  all 
that  I  know.  After  that  each  one  of  them  may 
win  out  of  it  as  they  best  can.  As  for  me,  as 
soon  as  my  pockets  are  full,  I  shall  settle  myself 
in  a  faro  house,  and  I  will  there  dare  fortune  in 
the  midst  of  players  and  bankers.  By  jingo  1 
what  a  pleasing  prospect." 

While  laying  these  plans  he  took  his  way 
towards  the  Faubourg  Saint-Antoine.  He  ar- 
rived all  out  of  breath  at  the  little  house,  and, 
while  opening  to  him.  Marcel  asked  him  if  by 
chance  he  had  again  killed  a  strange  prince. 

"  Not  today,"  said  Chaudoreille,  affectionately 
squeezing  his  friend's  hand,  which  made  the  latter 
presume  that  his  great  fortune  was  already  dissi- 
pated. 

"  Have  you  come  for  the  purpose  of  buying  a 
house  in  this  neighborhood,"  said  Marcel. 

"  There's  no  more  question  of  that ;  I  have 
been  robbed,  my  friend,  completely  robbed.  I  took 
a  sedan  chair  and  the  wretches  who  carried  me 
took  me  into  a  den  and  put  a  dozen  or  fifteen 
men  after  me.  Valor  could  do  nothing  against 
numbers ;  I  think,  however,  that  I  killed  three 
or  four  while  defending  myself.  But  let  us  drop 
that.  Tell  me,  my  dear  Marcel,  has  the  marquis 
brought  here  a  new  conquest?  " 


174         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  I  have  seen  neither  monseigneur  nor  any- 
body from  him." 

"  Marcel,  you're  lying." 

"  I'm  telling  you  the  truth.  There's  no  one 
except  me  in  the  house." 

"  The  devil !  that  upsets  my  ideas  a  little. 
You  are  very  sure  that  you  are  not  lying  to 
me  r 

"  Why,  hang  it !  if  there  had  been  anybody 
here  I  should  have  sent  you  away  before  this." 

"  Do  you  know  if  your  master  possesses  any 
other  little  properties  on  the  outskirts  of  Paris  ?  " 

"  I  know  nothing  except  to  follow  the  orders 
which  he  has  given  me,  to  eat  and  to  sleep  ;  for 
the  rest  I'm  neither  curious  nor  a  gossip." 

"  You're  very  wrong,  you'll  never  push  your- 
self.   Good-by,  Marcel." 

Chaudoreille  took  his  way  back  to  Paris,  ex- 
tremely dissatisfied  that  he  had  not  discovered 
where  Blanche  was.  Not  wishing  to  go  to  Julia's 
house  until  he  had  learned  more,  he  decided  to 
make  some  inquiries  at  the  marquis'  hotel. 

The  brilliant  Villebelle's  hotel  was  worthy  of 
its  master,  and  was  situated  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  Louvre.  Chaudoreille  slipped  into  an  im- 
mense court  and  bowed  low  to  the  porter,  while 
asking  if  monseigneur  was  in  Paris. 

"  Monsieur  le  marquis  is  in  England,"  said  the 
porter,  looking  at  Chaudoreille  from  the  height  of 
his  grandeur,  and  the  latter,  seeing  that  he  had  no 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       175 

way  of  entering  into  conversation  with  the  proud 
guardian,  left  the  hotel,  saying  to  himself,  — 

"  In  England  ?  Does  he  wish  to  seduce  the 
little  one  with  plum  pudding?  My  faith!  I've 
done  all  that  I  can.  Come  now,  let's  go  and  tell 
the  beautiful  Juha  all  that  I  know.  It's  not  more 
than  five  o'clock,  I  shall  have  plenty  of  time  to 
keep  my  appointment." 

Chaudoreille  ran  to  the  young  Italian's  house, 
where  a  servant  opened  the  door. 

"  Is  your  mistress  in  ?  "  said  he. 

"Yes,  monsieur." 

"  Is  she  alone?" 

"Yes,  monsieur." 

"  Go  and  inform  her  that  the  Chevalier  Chaudo- 
reille has  something  of  great  importance  to  com- 
municate to  her." 

The  domestic  returned  shortly,  and  immediately 
took  Chaudoreille  to  her  mistress.  Julia  was 
walking  up  and  down  her  room,  deeply  agitated. 

"  I  was  waiting  for  you,"  said  she  to  the  cheva- 
lier, signing  to  him  to  be  seated. 

"You  were  waiting  for  me,  signora?" 

"  Yes,  for  I  have  not  seen  the  marquis  since  I 
spoke  to  you.  Never  yet  has  he  been  so  long 
without  coming  and  I  do  not  doubt  but  some 
new  intrigue  is  the  cause  of  his  abandonment 
of  me." 

"  Alas,  signora,  you  have  divined  the  truth  only 
too  well. 


176         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Then  I  have  been  betrayed,"  cried  Julia, 
making  a  movement  of  fiiry,  while  Chaudoreille 
went  to  seat  himself  at  a  respectful  distance,  put- 
ting Rolande  across  his  knee. 

"  What  did  you  expect,  signora  ?  Men  are  — 
men.  The  marquis  did  not  know  how  to  appre- 
ciate your  grace,  your  charms,  your  —  " 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  and  tell  me  immediately 
all  that  you  know." 

"  She  wants  me  to  hold  my  tongue  and  yet 
speak,"  answered  Chaudoreille,  rolling  his  eyes 
affrightedly. 

"  The  name  of  my  rival  ?    Answer  me,  wretch." 

"  It's  this  way,  signora —  but  I  beg  you  let  me 
tell  you  that  by  order  —  " 

"  The  name  of  my  rival,  I  tell  you,"  resumed 
Julia,  approaching  Chaudoreille  furiously.  The 
little  man,  trembling  in  all  his  limbs,  muttered,  — 

"  Blanche,  an  orphan,  a  young  girl  whom  the 
barber  was  caring  for." 

"  The  scoundrel !    I  should  have  known  it." 

**  Blanche  was  to  have  been  married  today  to  a 
young  man  whom  she  loved  and  who  adored  her. 
The  barber  had  given  his  consent.  I  don't  know 
by  what  chance  monsieur  le  marquis  came  to  see 
the  young  girl,  but  he  must  have  fallen  in  love 
with  her  and  abducted  her,  for  the  night  before 
last  she  disappeared,  and  I  strongly  suspect  my 
friend  Touquet  of  having  aided  monseigneur's 
plans.    At  all  events,  the  little  one  is  not  at  the 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      177 

Faubourg  Saint-Antoine  ;  I  have  been  there  and 
the  marquis  is  not  in  Paris,  since  I  come  from  his 
hotel,  where  they  told  me  he  was  in  England." 

Chaudoreille  told  all  this  without  taking  breath, 
fearing  that  Julia  would  do  him  some  ill  if  he  did 
not  hasten  his  story. 

"  This  voyage  to  England  is  a  falsehood,"  cried 
Julia. 

"  I  thought  so  myself." 

"  The  marquis  has  taken  the  young  girl  to  one 
of  his  chateaux." 

"  That  is  probable." 

"But  to  which  one?  That's  what  we  must 
discover." 

"  I'm  of  your  opinion,  that's  what  we  must 
discover." 

"  Perhaps  this  young  girl  is  still  in  Paris." 

"  That  might  very  well  be.  This  city  is  a  gulf, 
a  young  girl  could  be  lost  here  like  a  piece  of  six 
Hards." 

Julia  reflected  for  some  moments,  and  Chaudo- 
reille remained  silent,  waiting  till  she  should  speak 
that  he  might  echo  her  words.  The  young  woman 
walked  up  and  down  the  room ;  one  could  per- 
ceive by  the  trembling  which  had  possession  of 
her  that  it  was  only  by  a  great  effort  that  she  re- 
strained her  fury.  Finally,  she  stopped  before 
Chaudoreille,  and  said  to  him,  — 

"  You  think,  then,  that  this  Blanche  does  not 
love  Villebelle  ? " 


178         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  I  think  that,  at  least,  she  does  not  yet  love 
him,  since  she  had  never  seen  him." 

"  How  can  you  be  certain  of  that?  ** 

"  In  fact  —  you  are  right,  I'm  not  certain  of  it 
at  all." 

"  Tell  me  everything  that  you  know  in  regard 
to  this  young  girl,  how  long  she  has  lived  at  the 
barber's  and  his  motive  for  adopting  her." 

Chaudoreille  told  Julia  the  same  story  that  he 
had  told  the  marquis,  and  she  listened  to  him  with 
the  greatest  attention.  When  he  had  finished  she 
fell  into  deep  thought,  and  Chaudoreille  dared  not 
disturb  her. 

"  Touquet  is  a  scoundrel,"  said  Julia,  "  I  have 
known  it  for  a  long  time,  but  I  wish  now  to  ob- 
tain proofs  of  his  crime,  and  if,  in  fact,  it  is  he  who 
has  given  Blanche  to  the  marquis,  he  should  trem- 
ble." 

"  That's  right,  crime  must  be  punished,"  and 
Chaudoreille  added  to  himself,  "If  she  would  only 
hang  him,  I  should  not  have  to  fear  him  any 
longer." 

"Is  that  really  all  that  you  know ? "  asked 
Julia. 

"  Oh,  forgive  me,  signora ;  in  the  ardor  of  my 
zeal  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  by  the  greatest 
chance,  I  met  Blanche's  lover  tonight.  The  poor 
devil  was  seated  on  a  stone,  and  I  was  seated  on 
the  ground ;  I  had  been  despoiled  by  bandits,  who, 
by  the  way,  have  robbed  me  of  the  fruits  of  three 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      179 

years  of  economy  and  privations,  which  I  was  car- 
rying to  a  savings  bank.  The  unfortunate  love 
to  talk  of  their  troubles  ;  we  chatted  and  he  told 
me  that  he  was  searching  for  his  future  wife.  I 
didn't  wish  to  tell  him  that  I  strongly  suspected 
the  Marquis  de  Villebelle  of  being  the  abductor  of 
his  sweetheart,  before  seeing  you  ;  but  I  gave  him 
a  rendezvous  for  this  evening  at  nine  o'clock." 

"  Very  good,  go  to  this  rendezvous  and  bring 
this  young  man  to  me." 

"  You  want  me  to  bring  him  to  you,  signora  ?  " 

"Yes,  bring  him  to  my  house  ;  we  will  plan  to- 
gether, we  will  unite  our  efforts  ;  he  that  he  may 
recover  his  mistress,  and  I  that  I  may  punish  the 
ungrateful  man  who  has  abandoned  me." 

"  Indeed,  that's  very  sensible,  in  acting  together, 
you  will  hear  more  and  do  more.  I  will  go  to  the 
rendezvous  then,  and  I  will  bring  young  Urbain 
to  you.  Ah,  by  jingo  !  I  haven't  yet  taken  any- 
thing today  and  I  am  afraid  that  I  have  no  money 
about  me." 

"  Wait,  wait,  take  that,"  said  Julia,  "  serve  me 
faithfully  and  do  not  spare  that  gold." 

"  For  fidelity  I'm  a  veritable  spaniel,"  said 
Chaudoreille,  putting  the  purse  in  his  belt.  "  I 
will  go  to  an  eating-house,  I  shall  have  time  to  eat 
a  little  and  take  a  glass  of  spirits  ;  then  I  will  go 
to  the  Porte  Montmartre  and  bring  our  lover  to 
you  immediately." 

Chaudoreille  hurriedly  left ;  when  he  was  in  the 


i8o         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

street  he  counted  the  money  that  was  in  the  purse 
and  said  to  himself,  — 

"  Really,  if  the  young  lover  gives  me  as  much 
more  I  shall  be  in  possession  of  a  nice  capital 
again,  without  counting  the  small  change  ;  for  this 
Julia  is  a  mine  of  gold  waiting  to  be  explored." 

At  nine  o'clock  he  was  in  the  neighborhood 
which  he  had  indicated  to  Urbain,  but  he  did  not 
find  the  young  bachelor  there ;  which  surprised 
him  after  the  desire  which  the  latter  had  evinced 
to  see  him  again  promptly.  Chaudoreille  walked 
up  and  down,  being  careful  to  hold  his  purse  in 
his  hand  and  to  keep  away  from  chair  porters. 
However,  ten  o'clock  had  struck  and  Urbain  had 
not  come.  The  chevalier  struck  his  foot  impa- 
tiently, muttering, — 

"  Plague  take  all  lovers  !  they're  always  half 
fools ;  this  one  may  have  misunderstood  me  and 
is  perhaps  waiting  for  me  at  the  Porte  Saint  Hon- 
ore,  while  I  am  waiting  for  him  here.  If  I  only 
knew  his  address;  this  is  a  nuisance,  by  all  the 
devils." 

Poor  Urbain  had  understood  very  well,  and  in 
going  into  his  lodging  at  daybreak  his  only  desire 
had  been  to  see  the  moment  of  his  appointment 
arrive.  But  who  can  foresee  events.  We  are  but 
sorry  creatures,  and  yet  we  form  great  plans  for 
the  future. 

Today  belongs  to  us  j 
Tomorrow,  to  nobody. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       i8i 

Today,  even,  does  not  always  belong  to  us  en- 
tirely. Hardly  had  he  reached  his  room  when 
Urbain  felt  a  shiver  run  through  all  his  body ; 
attributing  this  indisposition  to  the  fatigue  of  the 
night,  he  got  into  bed,  hoping  that  a  few  hours' 
rest  would  restore  him  to  his  usual  health,  but 
nature  had  not  so  ordered ;  a  high  fever  ensued, 
and  delirium  took  possession  of  the  young  man 
who,  since  the  evening  before,  had  entirely  yielded 
to  despair.  The  young  neighbor  who  had  as- 
sisted him  in  disguising  himself,  established  her- 
self at  his  bedside  to  watch ;  because  she  had  a 
friendly  feeling  for  Urbain,  and  because  women 
are  always  ready  to  prove  their  friendship  in  pain 
as  well  as  in  pleasure. 

This  was  the  reason  why  Chaudoreille  waited 
fruitlessly  by  the  Porte  Montmartre.  Finally,  at 
half-past  ten,  deeming  it  unwise  to  wait  longer,  he 
returned  in  a  very  ill- temper  to  the  young  Italian's 
house,  who,  seeing  him  alone,  exclaimed, — 

"  Why  did  you  not  bring  him  with  you  ?  " 

"  By  jingo  1   because  I  didn't  see  him.** 

"  What  do  you  say  ?  ** 

"  I  say,  signora,  that  I  have  vainly  watched  for 
him  since  nine  o'clock ;  Urbain  did  not  come  to 
the  place  of  meeting." 

"How  vexatious!  and  you  haven't  his  address?" 

"No,  if  I'd  had  it  I  should  have  gone  to  his 
house.  What  the  deuce  could  have  prevented  his 
coming  ? " 


1 82         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Perhaps  he  has  discovered  Blanche's  retreat ; 
no  matter,  we  shall  find  this  young  man  again. 
Chaudoreille,  tomorrow  at  daybreak  place  yourself 
in  hiding  near  the  barber's  house ;  watch  all  his 
movements,  if  he  goes  out  follow  him,  and  should 
the  marquis  go  to  see  him,  run  and  let  me  know. 
For  my  part,  I  shall  go  and  watch  the  Hotel  de 
Villebelle  ;  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  mar- 
quis will  repair  there  shortly.  By  watching  the 
movements  of  the  marquis  and  the  barber  we  shall 
discover  where  Blanche  is  hidden,  and  then  I  shall 
know  what  I  ought  to  do." 

"  Your  orders  shall  all  be  executed,"  said  Chau- 
doreille, bowing  to  Julia  as  he  left. 


CHAPTER   X 

The   Little  Closet  Again 

A  WEEK  had  elapsed  during  which  Julia  had 
spent  almost  her  whole  time  in  loitering  around 
the  Marquis  de  Villebelle's  hotel ;  she  had  not 
gained  much  by  this  however,  for  all  that  she 
could  be  sure  of  was  that  Villebelle  was  not  there. 
Chaudoreille,  for  his  part,  had  made  no  better 
progress  ;  he  was  very  sure  that  the  marquis  had 
not  been  to  the  barber's,  and  the  latter  kept  very 
closely  to  his  shop,  rarely  leaving  home  except  to 
go  to  his  customers'  residences.  What  most  sur- 
prised Chaudoreille  was  the  fact  that  since  he  had 
watched  he  had  not  once  seen  young  Urbain  go 
to  the  barber's  house  nor  had  he  encountered  him 
in  his  prowling  about  the  streets.  He  was  ignor- 
ant of  the  fact  of  which  the  reader  is  well  aware, 
that  the  young  bachelor  was  still  kept  in  bed  by 
fever,  and  that  the  impatience  and  grief  which  had 
caused  his  illness  had  greatly  retarded  his  conva- 
lescence. 

Julia  whose  proud  and  haughty  spirit  could  not 
endure  the  situation  in  which  she  found  herself, 
keenly  desired  to  wreak  her  vengeance  on  the 
lover  who  had  betrayed  and  abandoned  her,  an(i 

183 


i84        THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Villcbelle  being  still  absent,  she  charged  Chaudo- 
reille  to  take  her  place  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  hotel,  and  stationed  herself  in  the  Rue  des 
Bourdonnais;  Chaudoreille  accepted  this  change 
with  great  pleasure,  delighted  to  leave  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  barber's  house.  The  young  wo- 
man did  not  intend  merely  to  watch  Touquet's 
dwelling,  she  wished  to  introduce  herself  there,  to 
talk  with  Marguerite,  to  learn  from  the  good  old 
woman  all  the  details  of  Blanche's  disappearance. 
Julia  was  courageous  and  enterprising ;  she  was 
Italian,  and  she  wished  to  revenge  herself;  and 
thus  possessed  three  times  as  much  as  was  neces- 
sary to  compass  her  ends. 

She  was  not  afraid  of  Touquct,  but  she  readily 
felt  that  it  was  only  in  his  absence  that  she  could 
hope  to  speak  to  Marguerite,  and  she  formed  her 
plan  in  accordance  with  the  information  which 
she  had  received  in  the  neighborhood,  in  regard 
to  the  old  servant.  Towards  evening,  Julia  saw 
the  barber  leave  his  dwelling.  As  soon  as  he  had 
departed,  she  went  and  knocked  at  the  door  of 
the  house.  Marguerite  was  disconsolate  at  hav- 
ing no  news  of  her  ,dear  Blanche,  and  what  com- 
pleted the  despair  of  the  good  old  woman  was 
that  she  could  hear  nothing  of  Urbain.  When 
she  uttered  the  name  of  Blanche  before  her  master 
he  ordered  her  to  be  silent  in  a  severe  tone,  and 
it  was  only  in  solitude  that  she  dared  to  give  way 
without  constraint  to  her  grief. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      185 

**  Who  is  there  ?  "  asked  Marguerite,  following 
her  custom. 

"  Someone  who  brings  you  news  of  Blanche," 
answered  Julia. 

On  hearing  her  dear  child's  name.  Marguerite 
unhesitatingly  opened  the  door ;  she  had,  besides, 
recognized  a  woman's  voice,  and  grief  had  ren- 
dered her  less  fearful  than  formerly.  Julia  en- 
tered ;  she  was  wrapped  in  a  black  mantilla,  larger 
than  those  in  use  among  the  Spaniards,  and  wore 
a  cap  of  the  same  hue,  from  which  two  black 
feathers  fell  gracefully  on  her  left  shoulder.  This 
costume,  her  decided  step,  and  the  animation 
which  sparkled  in  her  black  eyes,  gave  to  the 
whole  person  of  the  young  Italian,  a  strangely 
fantastic  distinction,  but  Marguerite  did  not  notice 
all  this,  and  exclaimed  on  seeing  her, — 

"  Have  you  brought  me  back  my  dear  Blanche?" 

"  Not  yet,  but  I  shall  make  every  effort  that 
you  may  soon  see  her  again.  In  order  to  do  this 
it  is  necessary  that  I  should  talk  with  you ;  take 
me  to  your  room." 

"  But  my  master  has  forbidden  me  to  receive 
anybody,"  said  Marguerite,  who  began  to  regard 
Julia  more  attentively. 

"  Your  master  has  gone  out." 

"  He  may  come  in  at  any  moment." 

"  I  know  how  to  avoid  him.  You  are  very 
much  afraid  of  him,  are  you  not  ? " 

"  He's  so  strict." 


1 86         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"Come,  my  good  Marguerite,  don't  let  the 
fear  you  feel  for  the  barber  make  you  forget  your 
dear  Blanche.  Upon  the  conversation  which  we 
shall  have  together,  upon  the  information  which 
you  will  give  me,  depends  perhaps  the  success  of 
my  enterprise." 

"  Oh,  to  see  my  darling  girl  agdn,  I  feel  that 
I  would  dare  everything !  Come,  madame,  fol- 
low me." 

Marguerite  went  up  to  her  room,  followed  by 
Julia,  who  closely  scrutinized  everything  that 
she  saw.  While  the  old  woman  placed  her  lamp 
on  the  table  and  drew  up  some  chairs,  Julia  took 
off  her  mantle ;  she  wore  beneath  it  a  red  robe, 
and  in  a  black  belt  which  surrounded  her  waist, 
she  had  stuck  a  little  stiletto  with  an  ebony 
handle. 

This  combination  of  red  and  black,  which,  fol- 
lowing the  old  woman's  chronicles,  had  always 
been  the  costume  favored  by  magicians,  the 
weapon  which  glittered  in  Julia's  belt,  all  united 
to  inspire  Marguerite  with  a  secret  terror.  She 
looked  uneasily  at  the  young  woman  and  mur- 
mured, while  offering  her  a  seat,  — 

"  May  I  know,  madame,  who  you  are,  and 
where  you  have  known  my  poor  Blanche  ? " 

"Who  I  am,"  answered  Julia,  smiling  bitterly, 
"  has  no  connection  with  the  motive  which  brings 
me  here.  What  does  it  matter,  in  fact,  who  I 
am,  provided  that  I  am  willing  to  help  you  find 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      187 

the  one  for  whose  loss  you  are  grieving,  and  that 
I  have  the  power  to  do  so." 

"  The  power,"  repeated  Marguerite,  who  began 
to  be  afraid  of  a  private  conversation  with  one 
who  frequented  witches'  sabbaths,  "  Oh,  you  have 
the  power  ? " 

"  As  to  your  dear  Blanche,  I  do  not  know  her, 
and  I  have  never  even  seen  her." 

These  words  greatly  increased  Marguerite's  ter- 
ror, but  Julia  continued  without  paying  any  at- 
tention to  it, — 

"  Listen  to  me,  good  woman,  my  personal  in- 
terest leads  me  to  seek  Blanche.  The  one  who 
abducted  her  was  everything  to  me,  I  adored  him, 
I  would  have  sacrificed  my  life  for  him,  and  the  un- 
grateful man  has  forgotten  me.  Do  you  under- 
stand now,  the  motive  which  has  caused  me  to 
act  ? " 

"  Oh,  I  breathe  more  freely,"  said  Marguerite, 
"  yes,  madame,  I  understand  ;  this  seigneur  who 
came  here  is  perhaps  your  husband.  Alas  !  that 
does  not  astonish  me,  men  are  truly  most  unac- 
countable creatures." 

"  Tell  me  all  that  you  know,  good  Marguer- 
ite." 

Marguerite  told  her  of  the  marquis'  visit  and 
of  all  that  he  had  said. 

"He  had  never  seen  her  before  that  day  ?  ** 

"  Never,  I  can  certify  to  that." 

"  And  you  left  the  marquis  with  the  barber  ? " 


i88         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  The  marquis  ?  was  he  a  marquis  then  ?  Well, 
I  had  my  doubts  about  it." 

"  Please  answer  me.'* 

"  Yes,  madame,  my  master  ordered  me  to  go, 
and  I  left  him  with  this  marquis." 

"  And  what  followed  ?  " 

"  I  went  to  bed,  madame,  and  I  think  that  my 
dear  Blanche  did  the  same." 

"  That  wretch  Touquet  was  in  league  with  the 
marquis.  It  was  he  who  delivered  up  to  him  that 
young  girl." 

"  What  do  you  say,  madame  ?  do  you  think 
that  my  master  ?  — " 

"  Is  a  scoundrel !  '* 

**  Speak  lower,  I  beg  of  you  ;  if  he  should  come 
in,  if  he  should  hear  you.  But  you  are  mistaken, 
madame,  my  master  had  consented  to  Blanche's 
marriage  to  Urbain." 

"  The  better  to  hide  his  plans." 

**  Poor  Urbain,  I  never  see  him ;  no  doubt  he 
is  still  looking  for  our  dear  little  one." 

**  Where  was  Blanche's  chamber  ? "  said  Julia, 
looking  curiously  around  her. 

"  On  the  first  floor  looking  on  the  street,  ma- 
dame. Since  she  came  to  this  house  she  had  oc- 
cupied no  other." 

**  It  was  to  this  house  that  she  came,  then,  with 
her  father  who  was  murdered  ? " 

"Yes,  madame." 

"  Were  you  then  in  the  barber's  service  ? " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      189 

"  No,  madamc,  I  didn't  come  here  until  three 
years  after." 

**  Where  does  your  master  sleep  ?  " 

"  Directly  underneath  this.  This  is  why,  if  he 
should  come  in,  I  am  afraid  that  he  would  hear 
us  speak." 

"  Have  you  always  had  this  room  ? " 

"  No,  madame,  I  formerly  had  the  one  above 
Blanche's,  and  I  liked  it  much  better  than  this 
gloomy  chamber,  which  has  been  unoccupied  for 
a  long  time,  and  which  I  believe  was  formerly  the 
dwelling  of  a  magician  named  Odoard." 

Julia  arose  and  for  some  moments  walked 
silently  about  the  room.  All  of  a  sudden  she 
exclaimed, — 

"  Oh,  if  these  walls  could  only  speak  ! " 

"In  fact,"  said  Marguerite  shaking  her  head, 
"I  believe  that  we  should  learn  some  terrible 
things ;  a  tier  of  tags,  a  sorcerer." 

Julia  seemed  to  be  thinking  deeply  when  they 
heard  the  street  door  shut. 

"  O  my  God !  here  is  my  master,  I  am  lost," 
cried  Marguerite ;  "  he  has  expressly  forbidden 
me  to  receive  anybody." 

"  Keep  still,  he  shall  not  know  that  I  am  here. 
Does  he  sometimes  come  up  into  your  room  ? " 

"No,  but — good  Saint  Margaret  —  if  he 
should  discover  —  " 

Julia  put  a  finger  on  her  mouth,  as  a  sign  for 
the  old  servant  to  be  silent.     Presently  the  bar- 


I90         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

ber  was  heard  calling  Marguerite;  who  was  trem- 
bling so  that  she  did  not  know  how  to  stand. 

"  Tell  him  that  you  are  going  down,"  said 
Julia. 

Marguerite  approached  the  door,  then,  thinking 
she  heard  her  master  coming  upstairs,  — 

"  Here  he  is  —  he'll  see  you,"  said  she  to  Julia. 

"  You  must  hide  me." 

"Wait,  I  had  forgotten  it  —  quick — quick — 
in  this  closet." 

Marguerite  ran  to  her  alcove,  passed  behind  the 
bed,  opened  the  little  door  hidden  by  the  tapes- 
try, and  Julia,  as  quick  as  lightning,  entered  the 
closet.  The  old  servant  shut  the  door  on  her, 
took  her  lamp  and  hastened  to  go  downstairs. 
Her  master  was  in  the  lower  room. 

"  You  were  very  slow  in  coming  down,"  said 
the  barber,  looking  at  Marguerite. 

"  Monsieur,  at  my  age  one  cannot  move 
quickly." 

"  Has  anybody  been  here  during  my  absence  ?  " 

"  No,  monsieur,  nobody." 

"  Urbain,  perhaps  ? " 

"  I  assure  you  I  haven't  seen  him." 

"  Chaudoreille  ?  " 

"  No,  nor  him  either." 

The  barber  asked  for  what  he  needed  and  then 
made  a  sign  to  Marguerite  to  retire. 

"Is  monsieur  going  to  stay  up  late?**  asked 
she. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      191 

"  What  does  that  matter  to  you  ?  "  asked  Tou- 
quet  looking  sternly  at  her,  "  I've  already  told  you 
that  I  hate  curious  people  as  well  as  gossips." 

"  That's  true.   I'm  going  to  bed,  monsieur.** 

The  old  woman  regained  her  room,  closed  the 
door  carefully,  and  then  went  to  release  Julia, 
who  had  remained  without  a  light  in  the  little 
closet. 

"  Come,  madame,**  said  she,  "come,  you  needn't 
stay  in  there  now.'* 

"  A  moment,"  said  Julia,  taking  the  lamp  from 
Marguerite's  hand,  "  I  should  like  to  examine  this 
place." 

"  Oh,  mercy !  you  will  find  nothing  curious 
there.    We  went  into  it  once,  Blanche  and  I  —  ** 

"  There  is  a  door  here,"  said  Julia  holding  the 
light  to  the  wall  at  the  back. 

"  A  door  ?  do  you  think  so  ?  We  didn't  see 
it,  but  then  we  only  remained  for  a  moment  and 
without  a  light." 

Julia  tried  to  open  the  door  which  led  to  the 
staircase,  but  she  was  not  successful. 

"  This  door  is  closed  from  the  other  side,"  said 
she,  "  it  must  communicate  with  some  secret  pas- 
sage. 

"  What  does  it  matter  to  you,  madame?  Come, 
I  beg  of  you." 

"It  matters  greatly  to  me.  Oh,  if  I  could  ac- 
quire some  proof  to  undo  him." 

"  Proof  of  what,  madame  ?  '* 


192         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  It's  impossible  to  force  this  door." 

Julia  lowered  the  lamp  and  examined  the  floor 
to  sec  if  she  could  discover  a  trap  door,  while 
Marguerite  remained  at  the  entrance  to  the  alcove 
to  listen  if  her  master  should  come  up. 

"  What  is  in  this  big  chest  ?  "  said  Julia. 

"  It  is  empty,  as  you  see.  I  don't  know  what 
use  it  is  here,  I  shall  burn  it  some  day." 

Julia  stooped  and  lifted  the  chest,  the  better  to 
examine  it,  then  she  thought  she  saw  some  object 
on  the  floor.  She  carried  her  light  there,  and 
found  that  it  was  an  old  portfolio  of  brown 
leather,  which  seemed  to  have  been  hidden  be- 
neath the  chest,  and  appeared  to  have  been  there 
for  some  years,  for  the  dust  was  thick  around  it. 
Julia  uttered  a  joyful  cry  and  seized  the  portfolio. 

"What  is  it?"  said  Marguerite,  "what  have 
you  got  there  ? " 

"Something  tells  me  that  in  this  portfolio  I 
shall  find  that  for  which  I  am  looking." 

**  This  portfolio  ?  O  my  God !  where  was  it, 
then?" 

"  Silence  —  come,  let  us  shut  this  door  again." 

Julia  left  the  closet,  shutting  the  door,  and  when 
she  had  replaced  the  lamp  on  the  table,  hastened 
to  examine  the  portfolio  and  the  papers  which  it 
held.  Meanwhile,  Marguerite,  still  uneasy,  re- 
mained listening  near  the  door,  but  while  doing 
so  she  watched  Julia,  whose  features  expressed 
the  most  lively  agitation.    Suddenly  a  cruel  joy 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      193 

flashed  in  the  young  Italian's  eyes,  and  she  dropped 
on  a  seat  near  the  table,  exclaiming,  — 

"  I  shall  be  avenged." 

"  But  who  can  that  portfolio  belong  to  ? "  said 
Marguerite. 

"To  an  unfortunate  man  whom  your  master 
murdered." 

"  Murdered !   ah,  madame,  what  are  you  say- 

ing?" 

"  Yes,  everything  proves  it  to  me.  This  was 
the  chamber  in  which  he  was  lodged,  because  the 
secret  passage  would  assist  the  murderer  in  the 
perpetration  of  his  crime.  The  unfortunate  man 
had,  no  doubt,  visited  this  closet,  and,  without 
divining  the  misfortune  which  awaited  him,  had 
judged  it  prudent  to  hide  under  the  chest  his 
portfolio,  which  contains  the  proofs  of  an  impor- 
tant secret." 

"  Ah,  you  make  me>  shudder,  madame." 

Julia  continued  to  examine  the  papers.  Joy, 
surprise,  hope,  vengeance,  were  expressed  in  turn 
on  her  face. 

"At  last  his  fate  is  in  my  hands,"  exclaimed 
she,  "perfidious  man,  to  have  betrayed  me; 
tremble  lest  I  inflict  upon  you  torments  more 
cruel  than  those  you  have  made  me  suffer.  And 
you,  his  odious  accomplice,  I  will  see  that  the 
marquis  knows  the  monster  who  has  assisted  him 
in  his  amours." 

Tremblingly  Marguerite  listened  to  Julia.    The 

Vol.  viii 


194         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

latter  put  back  the  papers  in  the  portfolio  and 
carefully  hid  it  in  her  bosom,  then  resuming  her 
mantle  she  prepared  to  depart. 

"  And  Blanche,"  said  the  good  old  woman, 
"  you  have  not  told  me  more  about  Blanche, 
madame." 

"  Reassure  yourself,"  answered  Julia  in  a  solemn 
tone,  "  Blanche's  condition  will  now  be  changed, 
you  will  see  her  again.  Good-by,  my  good  wo- 
man, keep  the  closest  silence  in  regard  to  the 
portfolio  ;  Blanche's  fate  depends  upon  it." 

"  Fear  nothing,  madame." 

"I'm  going  down  without  a  light;  Touquet 
should  be  in  his  room  by  now." 

"  If  you  should  meet  him  ?  " 

"  I  will  not  make  the  least  noise." 

"  But  it  is  necessary  that  I  should  go  with  you 
to  open  the  door." 

"  You  need  not,  I  can  open  it  myself." 

"  There  is  a  secret  in  opening  it.  O  my  God, 
for  a  mere  nothing  I  would  go  with  you  from  this 
house.  All  that  you've  said  about  my  master 
makes  me  shudder,  and  since  my  dear  child  is  no 
longer  here  I  find  this  dwelling  very  gloomy." 

"  It's  very  necessary  that  you  should  remain 
here  in  order  to  give  me,  as  well  as  Urbain,  in- 
formation in  regard  to  all  that  the  barber  does. 
Before  long,  good  Marguerite,  you  shall  be  hap- 
pier, and  reunited  to  your  dear  Blanche." 

"  Oh,  may  all  that  you  say  prove  true,'* 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      195 

"  Open  your  door ;  I  don't  hear  the  least  sound 
on  the  staircase  ;  let  us  hasten." 

The  old  woman  groped  her  way  down,  Julia 
followed  her;  they  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs 
and  were  about  to  enter  the  alleyway  when  the 
barber,  coming  brusquely  from  the  corridor  which 
led  to  the  lower  room,  met  them,  bearing  a  light 
in  his  hand.  Marguerite  uttered  a  cry  of  fear ;  the 
barber  quickly  held  the  light  against  Julia's  face. 

"  Well,  do  you  recognize  me  ? "  she  said  to  him 
in  an  imperious  tone. 

Touquet  started  with  surprise,  but  forcing  him- 
self to  restrain  his  anger,  he  answered, — 

"  You,  at  my  house,  madame !  and  what  did 
you  come  to  seek  here  ?  " 

"  Some  news  of  Blanche." 

«  Of  Blanche  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  astonishes  you  !  you  did  not  sup- 
pose that  I  knew  this  young  girl  ?  You  be- 
lieved that  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle  could  yield 
to  his  new  passion  without  my  knowing  the 
object  of  it,  without  my  learning  that  you  were 
still  the  confidant  of  his  amours." 

Touquet's  eyes  blazed  with  fury  as  he  said  to 
Julia,  — 

"  Jealousy  has  disturbed  your  reason,  madame. 
If  your  lover  has  left  you  is  it  to  me  that  you 
should  betake  yourself?  Why  should  you  sup- 
pose that  the  marquis  is  the  abductor  of  a  young 
girl  whom  he  has  never  seen  ?  " 


196         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Your  falsehoods  are  useless.  I  know  a  great 
deal  more  than  you  think.  If  you  should  see  the 
marquis  before  I  do,  advise  him  to  hasten  to  re- 
store Blanche  to  Urbain.  If  by  your  perfidious 
counsels  he  should  become  guilty  of —  he  would 
be  the  first  to  punish  you  for  your  crime.  As  for 
me,  you  will  see  me  again ;  I  also  have  a  secret 
to  reveal  to  you." 

Thus  speaking,  Julia  walked  towards  the  door. 
The  barber  made  a  movement  as  if  to  stop  her, 
but  she  turned  and  her  hand  still  grasped  her 
stiletto.  Turning  on  Touquet  a  terrible  look, 
she  rapidly  left  his  house. 


CHAPTER  XI 
The  Storm  Brews 

Too  greatly  agitated  by  what  she  had  learned 
to  retire  and  compose  herself  to  rest,  Julia  sev- 
eral times  during  the  night  reperused  the  papers 
contained  in  the  portfolio  which  she  had  found  at 
the  barber's,  and  she  busied  herself  in  forming 
new  plans  and  meditating  other  projects  of  ven- 
geance. The  sleep  she  had  defied  did  not  once 
greet  her  eyelids,  and  dawn  found  her  seated  be- 
fore a  little  table  on  which  the  portfolio  was  lying 
examining  again  a  letter  which  she  had  taken 
from  it. 

At  this  moment,  however,  the  bell  rang  thrice, 
and  Julia  hastened  to  lock  the  papers  into  their 
receptacle,  and  presently  Chaudoreille  entered  her 
room. 

"Well,"  was  Julia's  brusque  greeting  to  the 
chevalier,  "what  have  you  learned?" 

**  Thanks  to  my  assiduity  I  am  at  last  enabled 
to  bring  you  some  important  news,"  cried  the 
little  Gascon  with  a  self-satisfied  air.  "  For  the 
past  forty-eight  hours  I  have  not  budged  from 
before  the  marquis'  hotel,  minutely  examining  all 
who  came  or  went." 

197 


198         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"Well?" 

"  Well,  indeed !  The  marquis  has  returned." 

"  He  is  here  ?  " 

"Yes,  signora,  at  his  hotel.  I  saw  him  arrive 
this  morning  in  a  travelling  carriage." 

"  Very  well,  I  shall  see  him,  I  hope." 

"  What  orders  have  you  to  give  me  now  ? 
Where  is  it  necessary  for  me  to  go  ?    I  am  ready." 

"You  have  not  yet  seen  this  young  Urbain?" 

"Alas,  no,  I'm  of  the  opinion  that  the  poor 
boy  is  dead  from  love ;  he  was  as  thin  as  a 
cuckoo.  I  don't  see  what  could  have  prevented 
his  coming  to  our  rendezvous." 

"  Return  to  the  hotel.  I  tremble  lest  the 
marquis  should  leave  without  our  knowing  it,  and 
in  order  to  recover  Blanche  it  is  important  that  I 
should  know  the  least  step  that  Villebelle  takes." 

"That's  very  right.  I'll  return  then  to  my 
post. 

"Take  this  gold,  but  redouble  your  zeal; 
hasten;  if  you  are  tired,  take  a  chair." 

"  I,  take  a  sedan  chair  ?  I  would  much  rather 
crawl  all  the  way  there.  Don't  disturb  yourself, 
signora,  my  legs  are  always  at  my  service." 

Chaudoreille  gone,  Julia  seated  herself  at  her 
desk  and  prepared  to  write,  but  suddenly,  throw- 
ing the  pen  far  from  her,  she  rose,  exclaiming, — 

"  It's  urgently  necessary  that  I  should  see  him, 
that  I  should  speak  to  him;  I  will  go  to  his 
hotel"  • 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       199 

She  immediately  rang  for  her  maid,  and  began 
to  make  her  toilet.  Despite  the  uneasiness  she 
experienced,  her  mirror  was  often  consulted,  and 
she  neglected  nothing  that  would  add  to  her 
charm.  This  important  task  accomplished,  Julia 
sent  for  a  sedan  chair,  and  was  carried  to  the 
marquis*  dwelling.  On  entering  the  immense 
court  of  this  magnificent  hotel,  the  young  Italian 
could  hardly  master  her  agitation. 

"  What  does  madame  desire  ?  "  said  the  porter. 

"  To  see  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle.** 

"  Monseigneur  returned  from  England  only 
this  morning,  and  as  yet  receives  nobody." 

"  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  I  should  speak 
to  him." 

"  That  is  impossible." 

"  Go,  at  least,  and  tell  him  that  the  Signora 
Julia  desires  to  see  him  immediately." 

The  porter  sent  a  lackey  with  this  message, 
who  soon  returned,  and  said  to  Julia,  with  an  im- 
pertinent air,  — 

"  Monseigneur  cannot  receive  you,  and  begs 
you  to  leave  the  hotel." 

Julia  could  not  swallow  this  affront ;  she  looked 
furiously  at  the  valet  and  abruptly  left.  Arrived 
at  home  she  went  to  her  desk  and  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing note  to  the  marquis,  — 

You  refuse  to  see  me  ;  it  depends,  however,  upon  me  to 
render  you  the  most  happy  or  most  unhappy  of  men.  I  know 
that  you  are  Blanche's  abductor.      Respect   that  young  girl. 


200         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Hasten  to  listen  to  me  ;  I  still  wish  to  forgive  you,  but  at  some 
moments  I  listen  to  nothing  but  my  fury. 

The  letter  written,  she  entrusted  it  to  a  faithful 
man,  and  awaited  his  return  with  the  most  lively- 
impatience.  The  messenger  at  length  came  and 
brought  an  answer  from  the  marquis.  Julia 
seized  it,  and  hastily  read  the  following, — 

My  little  Julia  :  your  sweet  note  made  me  laugh  a  good 
deal;  I  find  nothing  more  pleasing  than  those  women  who 
threaten  us  with  their  fiiry.  The  only  vengeance  which  a 
woman  in  your  situation  can  take  upon  a  man  is  to  deceive  him, 
—  and  God  knows  whether  you  would  use  this  means  ;  but  it 
is  necessary,  in  order  that  the  charm  may  work  effectually,  that 
it  should  be  taken  while  he  still  loves  you,  without  which  it 
fails  of  its  object.  Your  reign  is  past,  my  dear  friend.  You 
undoubtedly  did  not  think  to  captivate  the  Marquis  de  Ville- 
bclle  for  long,  and  I  sent  you  a  check  on  my  banker  to  settle 
the  account.  I  do  not  know  who  could  have  told  you  that  I 
had  abducted  a  certain  Blanche ;  once  more,  what  does  it 
matter  to  you  ?  Am  I  not  entitled  to  abduct  ten  women  if  that 
pleases  me.  Believe  me,  you  had  better  not  disquiet  yourself 
about  my  actions  or  give  yourself  the  further  trouble  of  writing 
to  me,  for  your  letters  will  be  returned  to  you  unopened. 
Good-by,  hot-head,  I  wish  you  a  faithful  lover,  since  you  hold 
so  much  to  fidelity. 

Julia  remained  motionless,  the  letter  was  still 
in  her  hands,  but  she  did  not  see  it ;  one  thought 
alone  occupied  her,  the  thought  of  vengeance, 
she  seemed  to  give  herself  up  to  it  with  delight. 

"  You  will  have  it,  will  you  ?  "  said  she, "  I  will 
not  hesitate  longer." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       201 

However,  the  marquis  was  very  much  surprised 
that  the  young  Italian  should  know  who  had  ab- 
ducted Blanche,  and  as  soon  as  night  came  he 
wrapped  himself  in  his  cloak  and  went  to  the  bar- 
ber's house.  Touquet  himself  opened  to  the  no- 
bleman, for  the  events  of  the  night  before  and  the 
fear  which  she  had  experienced  seemed  to  have 
paralyzed  old  Marguerite,  who  was  unable  to 
leave  her  room. 

"  You  here,  monseigneur  ? "  said  the  barber, 
with  surprise,  "  I  imagined  that  you  were  at  your 
chateau,  all  taken  up  with  your  new  love.  Can  it 
be  that  Blanche  is  already  forgotten  ?  " 

"  Forgotten  ?  Why,  I  love  her  more  than  ever. 
But  I  was  forced  to  come  to  Paris  for  some  days, 
though  I  hope  soon  to  return  to  Sarcus ;  each 
moment  that  I  pass  away  from  Blanche  seems  to 
me  a  century.  However,  I  have  not  yet  suc- 
ceeded, and  the  remembrance  of  her  Urbain  — 
but  let  us  come  to  the  motive  which  has  brought 
me  hither.  How  is  it  that  Julia  knows  that  I  have 
abducted  Blanche  ?  how  could  she  have  come  to 
know  this  lovely  child  whom  you  kept  with  so 
much  care  ? " 

"  You  find  me  as  much  surprised  as  yourself, 
monseigneur.  This  young  Italian  had  the  auda- 
city to  introduce  herself  into  my  house  yesterday 
evening ;  she  presented  herself,  so  my  old  house- 
keeper tells  me,  as  bringing  news  of  Blanche,  but 
really  she  came  to  gather  the  details  of  her  flight." 


202         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

**  She  came  also  to  my  hotel ;  I  refused  to  see 
her ;  she  wrote  to  me,  she  threatened  me.  My 
fate  is,  said  she,  in  her  hands.  You  may  imagine 
that  I  only  laughed  at  these  threats  as  inspired  by 
the  jealousy  and  spite  of  a  woman.  However, 
there's  something  very  singular  to  me  about  it  all." 

"  Wait,  monseigneur,  I  believe  I  have  a  glimpse 
of  light.  Who  informed  you  yourself  that  there 
was  a  charming  young  girl  in  my  house  ?  " 

"  Hang  it !  you  recall  it  to  my  recollection.  It 
was  an  original,  a  little  man  whom  I  found  at  my 
house  in  the  Faubourg,  hidden  under  a  statue,  and 
who  pretended  to  have  helped  in  the  abduction 
of  Julia." 

"Chaudoreille?" 

"  It's  that  same." 

"  I  should  have  divined  it ;  there's  no  doubt 
of  it,  it  was  he  who  told  Julia  that  you  had  ab- 
ducted Blanche.  If  he  should  happen  to  know 
Urbain,  I  should  not  be  astonished  if  he  has  told 
him  also.'* 

**  The  little  clown  !  I  paid  him  well  enough  for 
everything." 

"  After  having  caused  the  abduction,  he  does 
his  best  to  help  someone  to  find  Blanche." 

"  Truly,  that  is  not  so  very  stupid ;  this  is  a 
boy  who  follows  in  your  footsteps;  but  if  you  meet 
him,  I  recommend  him  to  you.  Give  him  a  good 
beating.'* 

"  Be  easy  about  that,  monseigneur.** 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      203 

"  For  the  rest,  they  may  do  what  they  please, 
they  cannot  snatch  Blanche  from  my  hands.  This 
young  girl  has  more  power  than  all  of  them  put 
together ;  one  tear  from  her  could,  I  feel,  change 
all  my  resolutions.  When  I  see  her  beautiful  eyes 
turned  towards  me  with  a  supplicating  look,  I  am 
often  about  to  sacrifice  my  love  and  to  restore  her 
to  him  whom  she  regrets,  in  the  hope  of  at  least 
obtaining  her  friendship." 

"  O  monseigneur,  what  folly !  Why,  Blanche  is 
in  your  power,  and  you  are  going  —  " 

"  No,  no,  she  must  belong  to  me ;  henceforth 
for  me  to  separate  from  her  is  impossible.  Be- 
sides, has  she  not  told  me  that  she  is  disposed  to 
love  me  ? " 

"  Come,  monseigneur,  pull  yourself  together. 
They  will  say  that  you  yield  to  the  threats  of  this 
little  Julia." 

"  My  uncle  is  very  ill,  perhaps  he  will  not  last 
through  the  night.  I  shall  soon  return  to  Sarcus, 
then  I  will  not  again  leave  Blanche,  I  will  listen 
to  nothing  but  my  love." 

"  With  women,  monseigneur,  that  causes  every- 
thing to  be  forgiven." 

Since  the  barber  knew  that  the  marquis  sus- 
pected where  he  had  obtained  his  fortune,  he  be- 
lieved that  it  was  for  his  interest  to  lose  sight  of 
Blanche.  If  Villebelle  dreamed  of  reentering  the 
path  of  honor,  Touquet  could  no  longer  feel  easy 
as  to  himself. 


204         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  marquis  regained  his  hotel.  As  he  had 
foreseen,  his  uncle  expired  during  the  night,  leav- 
ing him  immense  wealth ;  which  would  lead  one 
to  think  that  fortune  does  not  show  her  prefer- 
ence to  those  who  make  good  use  of  her  favors. 
But  someone  answers  to  that,  that  fortune  does  not 
make  happiness ;  it  is,  therefore,  necessary  to  con- 
sole the  unhappy  a  little. 

A  week  sufficed  the  marquis  to  settle  his  affairs. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  prepared  to  return  to 
Blanche,  to  whom  he  carried  presents  of  every 
kind,  which  were  carefully  packed  in  the  travel- 
ling carriage. 

Chaudoreille,  who  was  continually  on  the  watch 
about  the  hotel,  saw  these  preparations  for  depart- 
ure, and  ran  to  tell  Julia. 

"  Enough,"  said  the  young  Italian,  "  I  have 
long  been  prepared  for  this,  and  I  have  bought 
two  good  horses.     You  shall  come  with  me." 

"  To  the  end  of  the  world ;  I  am  devoted  to 
you. 

"  I  do  not  think  that  we  shall  have  to  go  very 
far,,  we  shall  have  nothing  to  do  but  follow  the  mar- 
quis' carriage." 

"  I  understand  you." 

**  You  can  ride  a  horse  ?  " 

**  Perfectly ;  however,  I  prefer  donkeys,  they 
don't  trot  so  fast." 

"  Idiot !  can  one  hope  to  follow  a  post-chaise 
on  an  ass  ?     Make  all  your  preparations." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      205 

"They  are  made.  I  have  my  wardrobe  upon 
me ;  as  to  my  purse,  yesterday  evening  I  had 
some  cursed  ill-luck  while  you  relieved  me  at  the 
hotel.  I  didn't  remain  in  the  gambling-house 
longer  than  between  five  and  ten  minutes,  and  I 
had  well  calculated  my  play  ;  well,  I  can  say  with 
Francis  the  First,  I  have  lost  everything  but 
honor." 

While  Chaudoreille  rattled  on,  Julia  donned  a 
large  cloak,  and  took  all  the  money  which  remained 
to  her.  Then  she  sent  the  Gascon  to  his  post, 
while  she  went  to  get  the  horses.  Towards  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening  the  marquis  got  into  his 
carriage  with  Germain  and  started  for  the  Chateau 
de  Sarcus,  not  for  one  moment  thinking  that  Julia 
and  Chaudoreille  were  following  his  carriage  from 
afar. 

Leaving  the  travellers  to  make  their  way  we 
will  return  to  poor  Urbain,  who,  for  a  long  time 
past,  had  languished  on  his  bed,  kept  there  by 
illness  and  grief.  He  was  heartbroken  at  being 
without  strength  to  go  in  search  of  his  dear 
Blanche,  and  the  good  girl  who  gave  him  every 
care,  incessantly  repeated  to  him,  — 

"  The  more  you  disquiet  yourself,  the  longer 
you  retard  your  cure." 

Someone  had  told  him  that  a  great  nobleman 
was  Blanche's  abductor,  and  he  was  in  despair  at 
not  having  been  able  to  keep  his  appointment  with 
this  man,  who  would  have  told  him  his  rival's 


2o6         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

name.  But  at  last  he  felt  better  and  could  go  out, 
and  the  first  use  which  he  made  of  his  returning 
strength  was  to  go  to  the  barber's  house.  It  was 
closed  on  every  side,  the  shutters  had  not  been 
taken  down  from  the  shop,  although  the  hours  of 
labor  had  long  since  begun  ;  Urbain  knocked,  but 
no  one  opened  to  him. 

"  It  is  useless  for  you  to  knock,"  said  a  neigh- 
bor to  him,  "  the  house  is  empty  and  is  for  sale. 
You  must  inquire  at  the  agent's.  Rue  des  Mau- 
vaises-Paroles." 

"And  the  barber?" 

"  The  barber  has  left  it,  I  tell  you,  there's  no- 
body there." 

"  And  Marguerite  ?  " 

"  She  died  a  week  ago." 

"  Marguerite  is  dead  —  is  it  possible  ?  " 

"  Why,  what  is  there  so  extraordinary  in  that  ? 
The  poor  woman  wasn't  young." 

"  Where  can  I  find  M.  Touquet  now  ? " 

"  I  can't  give  you  any  information.  That  man 
was  a  bear,  and  he  spoke  to  nobody." 

Urbain  departed,  discouraged  at  this  new  event. 
He  grieved  for  the  good  Marguerite,  who  had 
been  the  witness  of  his  love  and  his  happiness. 
He  had  no  idea  of  any  way  in  which  he  could 
obtain  information  as  to  Blanche's  fate.  He  went 
to  the  Porte  Montmartre  and  waited  for  three 
hours,  in  the  hope  that  he  who  had  given  him  an 
appointment  would  come  there  ;  but  he  waited  in 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      207 

vain,  and  then  turned  despairingly  towards  his 
lodging.  The  good-natured  girl,  to  whom  he  made 
his  lament,  tried  to  console  him  by  saying, — 

"If  it's  a  nobleman  who  has  abducted  your 
mistress,  you  must  go  and  ask  for  her  at  all  the 
great  noblemen's  houses." 

Suddenly  Urbain  uttered  a  joyful  exclamation, 
and  a  slight  smile  animated  his  pale  and  sorrow- 
ful features. 

"  There  still  remains  one  hope,"  he  said. 

"  And  what  is  that,  monsieur  ?  " 

"In  the  midst  of  all  these  events  I  had  forgot- 
ten that  adventure,  however,  it  may  yet  serve  me.'* 

"  What  adventure  ;  monsieur  ? " 

"  Listen  to  me.  You  remember  that  in  order 
to  see  Blanche  I  was  for  some  time  obliged  to 
disguise  myself  as  a  woman." 

"  Oh,  yes,  monsieur,  I  remember  very  well. 
Didn't  I  help  to  dress  you  and  to  put  in  your 
pms  r 

The  girl  smiled.  Urbain  paid  no  attention  and 
continued, — 

"  One  evening,  I  think  it  was  the  first  time  that 
I  wore  my  disguise,  having  been  accosted  by 
several  men,  I  escaped  them  by  traversing  many 
streets  and  it  was  very  late  when  I  found  myself 
in  the  Grand  Pre-aux-Clercs.  I  had  almost  reached 
my  dwelling  when  I  was  stopped  by  four  men, 
whom  by  their  language  I  recognized  as  noble- 
men of  the  court.   I  confessed  to  them  that  I  was 


2o8         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

a  man,  hoping  by  that  means  to  escape  them,  but 
one  of  them  wanted  me  to  tell  him  the  motive  for 
my  disguise.  I  refused,  he  persisted ;  I  got  angry, 
he  threatened ;  in  short,  one  of  his  companions 
lent  me  his  sword  and  we  fought,  I  wounded  my 
adversary,  but  very  slightly,  I  think.  *  My  friend,* 
he  said  to  me  then,  tendering  me  his  hand,  *  you 
are  a  brave  man  and  I  am  very  pleased  to  have 
made  your  acquaintance  ;  if  you  should  some  day 
have  need  of  a  protector,  come  to  my  hotel,  ask 
for  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle  and  you  shall  find 
me  ready  to  oblige  you.'  Those  are  his  exact 
words." 

"The  Marquis  de  Villebelle?  Oh,  I  have 
sometimes  heard  my  master  speak  of  him.  They 
say  that  he  is  a  great  nobleman,  very  generous, 
but  a  very  wild  fellow." 

"  No  matter,  he  offered  me  his  protection,  and 
I  shall  have  recourse  to  it." 

"  Mercy,  monsieur,  you  will  do  well,  and  who 
knows  whether  he's  not  acquainted  with  the  rascal 
who  has  stolen  your  darling." 

"  Yes,  I  hope  that  the  marquis  will  help  me  to 
recover  Blanche.  These  great  noblemen  tell  each 
other  their  adventures,  their  good  luck ;  such  a 
brave  man  should  have  some  pity  on  my  torture. 
Why  have  I  not  already  spoken  to  him  —  but  his 
hotel?" 

"  Oh,  he's  very  well  known,  monsieur,  and  it 
will  be  very  easy  for  you  to  find  that  out." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       209 

On  the  morrow,  as  soon  as  it  was  day,  Urbain 
went  out  to  try  and  find  the  one  on  whom  he 
placed  his  last  hopes.  He  obtained  information  as 
to  the  marquis'  hotel,  and  he  soon  arrived  there. 

"  Monsieur  le  Marquis  de  Villebelle  ? "  said 
he  entering  the  court,  and  timidly  addressing  the 
porter. 

"  This  is  his  hotel,  but  monsieur  le  marquis  is 
not  in  Paris." 

"Is  not  in  Paris  ?  "  exd^med  Urbain,  his  heart 
contracting. 

"  No,  he  is  travelling." 

"  Travelling  ?     And  will  he  soon  be  back  ?  " 

"  He'll  come  back  when  he  pleases.  Do  you 
think  monseigneur  needs  your  permission  in  order 
to  go  travelling  ? " 

"  That  was  not  what  I  wished  to  say,  monsieur, 
but  I  am  in  such  haste  to  see  monsieur  le  marquis, 
to  speak  to  him." 

"  You  can  see  him  when  he  comes  back,  when- 
ever monseigneur  is  willing  to  receive  you." 

The  insolent  porter  returned  to  his  lodge,  took 
his  glass  and  his  fork,  and  resumed  a  copious 
breakfast,  without  paying  any  further  attention  to 
the  young  student,  who  remained  in  the  court, 
heaving  big  sighs,  as  he  said,  — 

"  He's  not  in  Paris  ;  how  unfortunate  I  am." 

Ten  minutes  later  Urbain  softly  approached 
the  porter's  lodge,  and  said  to  him  in  a  suppli- 
cating tone, — 

Vol.  VIII  , 


2IO         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Monsieur,  can  you  not  tell  me  where  the 
marquis  has  gone  ?  " 

"  What  ?  Are  you  still  there  ? "  answered  the 
porter  without  turning  his  head.  **  Can't  you  leave 
me  to  eat  my  breakfast  in  peace  ?  I  tell  you  that 
monseigneur  is  travelling.  There  are  some  peo- 
ple who  are  so  stubborn ;  they  all  say  the  same 
thing,  *  I  wish  to  see  monseigneur,'  and  they 
bother  my  head  from  morning  till  night." 

Urbain  would  not  be  repulsed ;  he  knew  the 
customs  of  Paris,  and  took  out  his  purse,  in  which 
he  had  put  several  crowns,  and  made  it  chink  in 
his  hand.  Then  the  porter  deigned  to  turn 
towards  him,  and  said  to  him,  a  little  more  po- 
litely, — 

"  I'm  truly  sorry,  but  monseigneur  is  really 
absent,  and  between  ourselves,  I  believe  he  will 
be  so  for  a  long  time." 

"  O  heavens ! "  said  Urbain,  "  and  he  is  my 
only  hope.  Oh,  monsieur,  if  you  know  where 
monseigneur  is,  I  entreat  you  to  give  me  his 
address." 

The  young  man  held  out  his  purse  and  ad- 
vanced. 

"  Come  in  for  a  moment,"  said  the  porter  open- 
ing the  little  door  of  his  lodge ;  "  yes,  of  course, 
I  know  where  monseigneur  is.  It's  very  neces- 
sary that  we  should  know  that,  in  order  that  we 
may  send  him  any  important  letters  that  may  be 
addressed  to  him;  but  it's  a  secret.     However, 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      211 

if  you'll  promise  to  be  discreet,  and  to  let  nobody 
know  that  it  was  I  who  told  you,  —  " 

"  I  swear  to  you  not  to  do  so." 

"  Then  I'll  tell  you.  Monsieur  le  marquis  is  at 
his  Chateau  de  Sarcus,  situated  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Grandvilliers.  Take  the  road  to  Beauvais 
and—-" 

Urbain  did  not  wait  to  hear  more ;  he  threw 
his  purse  on  the  porter's  table,  hastily  left  the 
hotel,  ran  to  his  lodging,  took  all  the  money  he 
had  left,  and  the  same  day  set  out  to  seek  the 
marquis  at  his  chateau. 


CHAPTER   XII 

The  Return  to  the  Chateau 

During  the  absence  of  the  marquis  from  the 
Chateau  de  Sarcus  the  unhappy  Blanche  had 
passed  some  sad  and  monotonous  days ;  she  had 
grown  used  to  seeing  and  talking  with  him,  and 
hoped  to  induce  him  to  allow  her  to  rejoin 
Urbain ;  so  the  day  after  Villebelle's  departure, 
astonished  at  not  receiving  his  accustomed  visit, 
she  believed  that  he  was  disposed  to  take  her 
back  to  Paris ;  but  in  the  evening,  not  meeting 
him  in  the  park  as  usual,  Blanche,  on  her  return 
to  her  room,  asked  the  maid  for  some  news  of 
her  host. 

"  Monscigneur  has  gone,  he  went  away  yes- 
terday," answered  the  country  girl. 

"  Gone  without  me !  "  exclaimed  Blanche,  rais- 
ing to  heaven  her  beautiful  eyes,  filled  with  tears 
and  despair;  "can  it  be  possible  that  he  wishes 
to  keep  me  always  a  prisoner  in  this  chateau, 
then?" 

"  Don't  grieve,  mademoiselle,"  said  the  good- 
natured  girl,  "monseigneur  said  that  he  would 
not  be  long  absent." 

Blanche  made  no  answer,  but  returned  to  her 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      213 

room,  and  there  passed  her  days  in  grief  and  dis- 
couragement. She  regretted  the  absence  of  the 
marquis,  for  the  sweet  child  flattered  herself  that 
he  would  yet  yield  to  her  prayers.  She  had  sev- 
eral times  seen  that  her  tears  caused  him  emotion, 
and  she  still  hoped  that  he  would  reunite  her  to 
Urbain  ;  but  left  alone  she  no  longer  hoped,  and 
the  days  rolled  slowly  by  for  the  young  prisoner. 
However,  the  return  of  springtime  embellished 
the  earth ;  the  trees  regained  their  foliage  and  the 
grass  its  verdure,  the  meadows  were  dotted  with 
flowers,  and  the  birds  came  again  to  the  groves  to 
sing  the  season  of  love.  But,  indifferent  to  the 
scenes  which  spread  before  her  eyes,  Blanche 
looked  without  pleasure  on  this  charming  per- 
spective, with  which  at  any  other  time  she  would 
have  been  delighted.  The  sorrow  with  which  her 
heart  was  filled,  threw  a  gloomy  veil  over  all  the 
objects  which  surrounded  her. 

Sometimes  while  walking  in  the  park,  Blanche 
considered  the  idea  of  escaping ;  but  in  what  di- 
rection could  she  take  her  flight  ?  Besides,  the 
park  was  surrounded  with  very  high  walls,  and 
the  doors  which  led  to  the  country  were  always 
scrupulously  closed.  The  young  girl  was  ignorant 
of  the  fact  that  in  the  absence  of  the  marquis,  two 
men  servants  watched  her  every  step. 

A  deep  melancholy  seized  her,  the  servant, 
Marie,  tried  in  vain  to  distract  her  ;  sighs  and  tears 
were  the  only  response  which  she  obtained.    Ten 


214         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

days  had  passed  when  Marie  came  running  one 
morning  to  tell  Blanche  her  master  had  arrived. 

This  news  seemed  to  reanimate  the  young  pris- 
oner, and  she  waited  impatiently  for  the  marquis 
to  come  and  speak  to  her.  Villebelle,  who  ar- 
dently desired  to  see  his  captive,  did  not  tarry  in 
coming  to  her,  and  was  greatly  struck  by  the 
changes  which  had  been  wrought  in  her  whole 
person. 

**  You  have  forgotten  me,  then,  in  this  cha- 
teau ?  "  said  Blanche  sighing. 

"  I  forgotten  you  ?  " 

"  Why  did  you  not  take  me  to  Paris,  then  ? 
Are  you  going  to  keep  me  here  long  ? " 

"  At  least,  Blanche,  I  will  not  leave  you  again." 

"  Let  Urbain  come  to  us,  and  I  will  not  ask  you 
to  let  me  go  away  again." 

The  marquis  knit  his  brows  and  tried  to  distract 
Blanche  by  offering  her  several  pretty  trifles  which 
he  had  brought  from  Paris ;  but  these  presents 
were  no  better  received  than  the  first,  and  did  not 
even  evoke  a  smile  from  the  young  girl.  In  the 
evening  Blanche  and  the  marquis  again  walked  in 
the  park.  Villebelle,  more  in  love  than  ever,  re- 
called the  barber's  counsels  and  promised  himself 
the  conquest  of  his  captive,  but  when  he  was  near 
Blanche,  he  felt  all  his  resolutions  vanish.  One 
look  from  the  lovely  child  put  a  curb  on  his  de- 
sire, though  it  penetrated  to  the  depth  of  his  heart, 
and  Villebelle  said  to  himself, — 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      215 

"  By  what  magic  does  this  young  girl  inspire  me 
with  a  respect  that  is  stronger  than  my  love  ?  " 

Blanche,  rendered  confiding  by  her  innocence, 
was  seated  at  the  entrance  of  a  grotto  which  was 
surrounded  by  thick  shrubbery.  The  marquis 
placed  himself  beside  her.  For  a  long  time  he 
remained  silent,  tenderly  watching  her.  Then  he 
took  Blanche  in  his  arms  and  was  about  to  cull  a 
kiss  from  her  charming  mouth,  when  she  turned 
her  supplicating  eyes  towards  him,  saying,  — 

"In  pity, monseigneur,  let  me  go." 

Without  knowing  why  he  did  so,  he  allowed  the 
lovely  girl  to  escape  from  his  arms.  He  remained 
alone  in  the  grotto ;  Blanche,  experiencing  a  novel 
fear  of  the  marquis,  had  fled,  and  the  latter,  curs- 
ing his  weakness,  returned  to  the  chateau,  vowing 
that  he  would  no  longer  tremble  before  a  child. 

Julia  and  her  companion  had  arrived  at  Sarcus 
and  had  seen  the  marquis  enter  the  chateau. 
Chaudoreille  had  only  fallen  three  times  on  the 
way,  but  he  asserted  that  that  was  because  his 
horse  had  been  frightened.  However,  he  com- 
plained greatly  of  fatigue,  to  which  his  companion 
appeared  insensible,  as  she  scrutinized  the  chateau 
which  the  marquis  had  entered,  and  its  high  tow- 
ers illuminated  by  the  sun. 

"  This  is  where  he  went,  then,"  said  the  young 
Amazon,  guiding  her  horse  close  against  the  walls. 

"  Yes,  signora,  there's  not  the  least  doubt  that 
he  went  there,  since  we   have  seen  him  go  in," 


2i6         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

answered  Chaudorellle,  who  had  alighted  from  his 
horse,  where  he  was  not  comfortable. 

"  That's  the  Chateau  de  Sarcus,  according  to 
what  a  peasant  told  me." 

"It  is,  in  faith,  a  very  fine  castle.  My  ances- 
tors had  ten  or  a  dozen  like  that ;  but  they  played 
for  one  every  evening  at  piquet,  and  you  know 
that  luck  is  not  always  favorable.  But  ugh  !  how 
tired  I  am,  this  palfrey  trotted  so  hard." 

"  And  within  these  walls  Blanche  is  shut  up." 

"  That's  very  probable.  By  jingo !  but  we  came 
at  a  good  pace,  and  at  the  present  time  I  would 
defy  the  best  jockey  in  France," 

**  How  shall  we  know  on  which  side  this  young 
girl  is?" 

"  I  think  it's  first  necessary  to  know  where  we 
can  get  some  breakfast ;  you  must  be  terribly  fa- 
tigued, signora." 

"  I  don't  feel  in  the  least  tired,  the  hope  of 
vengeance  has  doubled  my  strength." 

"  I  have  had  nothing  to  double  mine ;  I'm 
knocked  up,  exhausted,  and  I'm  as  hungry  as  a 
hunter." 

Julia  alighted  from  her  horse  and  led  the  ani- 
mal to  Chaudoreille. 

"  Mount  him,"  she  said,  "  and  take  the  other 
by  the  bridle.  Go  to  the  village,  which  you  see 
over  there,  find  an  inn,  and  there  wait  for  me. 
I  wish  to  examine  the  chateau." 

"  Enough,  I'll  go  and  make  them  get  breakfast 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      aiy 

ready.  Oh,  under  what  title  shall  we  present  our- 
selves ?  I  have  been  thinking  that  it  would  be 
better  to  preserve  our  incognito  in  this  part  of  the 
country." 

"  Say  what  you  like." 

"  I  shall  say  that  we  are  Moors  from  Spain, 
that  we  have  come  from  Granada  to  give  lessons 
in  castanets.  That  will  prevent  all  suspicion,  and 
our  rather  dark  skins  will  foster  the  supposition." 

Julia  did  not  listen  further  to  Chaudoreille  and 
walked  towards  the  chateau,  while  the  chevalier, 
not  caring  to  remount,  took  both  horses  by  their 
bridles  and  went  hobbling  along  to  the  village. 

Chaudoreille  inquired  for  the  best  inn.  There 
was  only  one  in  the  village  and  he  reached  it,  lead- 
ing his  two  horses  after  him.  The  master  of  the 
inn  came  to  meet  him,  and  Chaudoreille,  trying 
to  pull  himself  up,  said  to  him,  — 

"  I  am  Malek-al-Chiras  of  Granada,  professor 
of  castanets  in  the  two  Spains,  and  come  to  France 
with  my  sister,  Salamalech,  to  dance  the  bolero  be- 
fore Cardinal  Richelieu.  We  shall  perhaps  stay 
for  some  time  in  this  village,  but  we  wish  to  pre- 
serve the  strictest  incognito.  Do  you  under- 
stand?" 

"  I  don't  understand  very  well,"  said  the  inn- 
keeper, looking  stupidly  at  him. 

"In  that  case,  prepare  at  once  an  omelette  with 
bacon,  give  me  a  room,  and  take  care  of  my 
horses,  which  are  Arabian." 


2i8         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  innkeeper  understood  this  better,  and  led 
his  guest  to  a  chamber  on  the  first  floor,  to  which 
Chaudoreille  mounted  with  pain,  so  greatly  had 
his  long  ride  on  horseback  discommoded  him. 

After  resting  for  some  hours  he  went  to  the 
table,  and  had  been  there  for  a  long  time  when 
Julia  came  in  search  of  him. 

"  I  awaited  you  with  impatience,"  said  Chau- 
doreille, while  dismembering  his  third  pigeon. 

"  Well,  what  have  you  learned  ?  " 

"  My  faith,  I've  learned  that  we  shall  not  have 
fish  for  dinner." 

"  Idiot !  I  was  speaking  to  you  of  the  mar- 
quis." 

"It  seems  to  me  that  as  I  left  you  at  the  cha- 
teau, you  should  know  more  than  me." 

"  I  have  been  alL  around  it,  but  I  did  not  see 
anybody.  You  should  have  asked  these  peasants 
what  they  know  of  the  chateau." 

"  They  look  as  stupid  as  geese.  How  should 
these  people  know  anything  ?  By  the  way,  you 
are  my  sister  and  you  are  called  Salamalech." 

"  Chaudoreille,  do  you  think  that  I  brought  you 
here  to  listen  to  your  foolishness  ?  Make  haste 
and  rest  yourself  and  we  will  visit  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  chateau  ;  we  will  see  if  there  is  any 
way  of  introducing  ourselves  into  the  park." 

"  Begging  your  pardon,  it  will  be  very  difficult 
for  me  to  stir  today.  I  am  nailed  before  this 
table." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      219 

Finding  it  would  be  impossible  to  get  her  com- 
panion on  his  feet  again,  Julia  left  the  inn,  after 
taking  a  little  nourishment,  and  again  went  to 
prowl  around  the  walls  of  the  chateau. 

"  The  devil's  in  that  woman,"  said  Chaudoreille 
to  himself  as  he  got  into  bed, "  she  would  be  wor- 
thy to  carry  Rolande  at  her  side.  My  good  host, 
put  Rolande  there,  under  my  bolster.  That's  it, 
so  that  at  the  first  alarm  I  can  get  him.  Now  see 
that  you  shut  my  door,  and  when  my  sister  Sala- 
malech  returns  tell  her  that  I  beg  of  her  not  to 
waken  me  before  tomorrow  at  midday." 

While  Chaudoreille  slept,  Julia  made  the  tour 
of  the  park  and  noticed  a  place  where  the  wall  was 
broken,  and  where  it  was  possible  to  introduce 
one's  self  into  the  interior  of  the  garden  ;  but  not 
wishing  yet  to  risk  it,  she  returned  to  her  inn  and 
tried  to  obtain  some  information  about  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  chateau.  The  peasants  knew  but 
one  thing,  and  that  was,  that  for  the  present,  their 
lord  was  at  Sarcus." 

"  But  did  not  somebody  bring  a  young  girl  to 
the  chateau,  some  days  ago  ? "  asked  Julia. 

"  When  monseigneur  is  here  the  house  is  full  of 
ladies  and  gentlemen,"  answered  the  host;  who  be- 
lieved that  the  brother  and  sister  had  come  to  play 
their  castanets  before  the  marquis. 

Julia  decided  to  take  a  little  rest,  but  the  next 
day  at  dawn  she  repaired  to  Chaudoreille's  room. 

"  Monsieur,  your  brother,  is  still  sleeping,"  said 


220         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

the  host  whom  she  met,  "  and  M.  Malck-Al-de 
Granada  has  forbidden  that  anyone  should  wake 
him  before  noon." 

Julia,  without  listening  to  the  host,  went  into 
the  chevalier's  room.  He  was  sleeping  soundly, 
and  she  pulled  him  rudely  by  the  ear. 

"  Did  I  bring  you  here  with  me,"  said  she,  "that 
you  might  sleep  ?  " 

"  Oh,  by  jingo  !  how  cruel  you  are,  I  was  in 
my  first  slumber." 

"  Come,  get  up  ! " 

"  Get  up  ?  get  up  ?  I  respect  decency  too  much 
to  rise  before  you." 

"  Get  up,  I  tell  you." 

**  Well,  since  you  will  have  it  so,"  and  Chau- 
doreille  put  his  two  little  thin  legs  out  of  bed, 
saying,  "It  appears  that  I  cannot  make  her  run 
away." 

"You  will  go  to  the  chateau,  you  will  enter 
the  first  court,  under  the  pretext  of  admiring  the 
architecture,  and  you  will  chat  with  the  porter." 

"  And  if  I  am  recognized  ? " 

"  By  whom  ? " 

"  By  monseigneur." 
"    "  Do  you  think  he  amuses  himself  by  walking 
in  the  court  ?     He  is  with  his  young  captive." 

"  That  is  presumable." 

"  We  will  meet  here  presently  and  you  will  tell 
me  all  that  you  shall  have  learned.  For  my  part, 
I  am  going  to  find  my  way  into  the  park." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      221 

After  a  good  breakfast,  Chaudoreille  started, 
enveloping  himself  in  a  mantle  or  cloak  which 
Julia  had  given  him,  and  which  was  so  much  too 
large  for  him  that  part  of  it  dragged  on  the 
ground ;  but  he  admired  himself  very  much  in 
it,  and  felt  himself  six  inches  taller. 

As  he  drew  near  the  chateau,  his  first  care  was 
to  look  and  see  if  there  were  a  sentinel  upon  the 
wall,  but  perceiving  nothing  that  seemed  to  indi- 
cate that  the  castle  was  upon  a  war  footing  he 
decided  to  advance.  On  arriving  before  the  princi- 
pal gate  he  walked  for  an  hour,  far  and  wide,  be- 
fore knowing  if  he  should  go  into  the  chateau  or 
not.  The  old  porter,  smoking  his  pipe  before  his 
door,  perceived  this  little  figure,  trailing  a  cloak, 
and  coming  and  going  for  a  long  while  in  the  same 
circle.  Irritated  by  this  conduct,  the  porter  left 
the  chateau  and  walked  towards  Chaudoreille,  to 
ask  him  what  he  did  there.  The  latter,  seeing  a 
man  walk  with  long  steps  towards  him,  imagined 
that  the  porter  suspected  him  and  was  about  to 
arrest  him.  Immediately  he  began  to  run  on  the 
sward,  but  presently  his  feet  became  entangled  in 
the  train  of  his  cloak  and  he  rolled  on  the  grass. 
The  porter,  hearing  someone  calling  in  the  cha- 
teau, did  not  continue  his  walk,  and  on  rising 
Chaudoreille  saw  nobody.  He  then  hastened  to 
take  the  way  to  the  village. 

"  This  is  enough  of  it  for  today,"  said  he, "  an- 
other time  I  shall  not  be  so  imprudent.  Til  hide 


222         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

in  the  thickets  which  are  within  cannon  shot  of 
the  castle,"  and  he  returned  to  his  inn  where, 
while  awaiting  dinner,  he  played  at  little  quoits 
with  his  host,  and  insisted  on  teaching  madame, 
his  wife,  to  dance  the  bolero.  Julia,  hearing  the 
noise,  found  Chaudoreille  in  the  courtyard  of  the 
inn,  in  the  midst  of  the  fowls  and  manure,  mak- 
ing many  bows  to  a  little  woman  of  forty  years, 
and  beating  time  with  Rolande,  saying,  — 

"In  Granada  nobody  dances  except  sword  in 
hand.  Ah,  here  is  my  sister  Salamalech,  she  can 
make  curtseys  without  touching  her  heels." 

Julia  pushed  the  dancing  master  into  her  room, 
saying  to  him,  — 

"  What  are  you  doing  in  that  courtyard  ? " 

"  What  the  deuce  !  I  did  it  the  better  to  pre- 
serve our  incognito,  for  prudence*  sake." 

**  What  have  you  learned  this  morning  ?  " 

**  Many  things.  I  believe  there  is  a  garrison  at 
the  chateau.  I  saw  an  armed  man  come  out.  As 
to  little  Blanche,  I  have  a  suspicion  that  they  are 
keeping  her  in  a  subterranean  dungeon." 

"You're  a  fool.  I've  spoken  to  a  young  girl 
who  lives  at  the  chateau  ;  I  made  her  gossip. 
Blanche  is  in  one  of  the  towers  which  overlook 
the  lake." 

"  Then  the  soldier  whom  I  questioned  must 
have  lied  to  me.  I  had  him,  however,  with  my 
sword  at  his  throat." 

"  Nobody  has  arrived  at  the  chateau  ?  ** 


CHARLES  PAUL  D^:  KOCK      223 

"Oh,  nobody,  I'm  sure  of  that,  I  have  not  lost 
sight  of  it." 

"  This  evening  I  shall  introduce  myself  into  the 
park,  and  I  hope — " 

"I  hope  that  I'm  not  to  introduce  myself  there." 

"  No,  you  are  to  watch  outside." 

"Ah,  I'm  good  at  watching  outside;  besides, 
I  have  the  eyes  of  a  cat,  I  can  see  clearly  at  night." 

According  to  his  custom  the  marquis  went  to 
visit  Blanche  on  the  day  after  the  scene  in  the 
grotto,  but  she  experienced  a  new  dread  at  sight  of 
him.  She  recalled  how  passionately  he  had  folded 
her  in  his  arms,  and  despite  her  innocence  she  felt 
a  degree  of  fear  as  she  saw  him  approach  and  seat 
himself  at  her  side.  The  marquis  knew  women 
too  well  not  to  perceive  the  change  in  Blanche's 
manner.  He  tried  to  read  the  young  girl's  eyes, 
he  wished  to  see  again  the  sweet  expression  which 
so  charmed  him,  but  Blanche  kept  her  eyes  down- 
cast, she  trembled,  and  feared  to  meet  those  of  the 
marquis.  After  a  shorter  visit  than  usual  Ville- 
belle  left  Blanche,  and  went  to  reflect  on  the 
means  which  he  should  employ  to  overcome  her 
resistance.  He  awaited  the  evening  impatiently, 
he  flattered  himself  that  he  should  be  more  fortu- 
nate in  the  gardens  in  making  his  peace  with  his 
young  prisoner ;  but  Blanche  listened  to  a  secret 
voice  which  told  her  she  was  not  safe  in  the  park 
with  the  marquis,  and  she  did  not  intend  to  go 
there. 


224         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

It  had  long  been  night,  and  vainly  had  Ville- 
belle  walked  up  and  down  the  pathways  where 
the  young  girl  walked  every  evening.  He  did 
not  meet  her. 

"  She  fears  me,"  said  he,  "  however,  she  does 
not  hate  me,  she  herself  has  told  me  so." 

On  passing  before  the  grotto  where  they  had 
sat  the  evening  before,  the  marquis  believed  that 
he  saw  a  shadow  flit  before  him.  Persuaded  that 
it  was  Blanche,  he  ran  to  seize  her.  The  person 
whom  he  pursued  paused,  turned,  and,  by  the  light 
of  the  moon,  the  marquis  recognized  Julia. 

"  You  in  this  neighborhood,  and  in  my  park  ?  " 
said  Villebelle,  with  the  greatest  astonishment. 

"  Yes,  monsieur  le  marquis,"  said  Julia  with  a 
bitter  smile,  "  does  that  astonish  you  ?  Monsieur 
de  Villebelle  should,  however,  understand  all  the 
pleasure  which  I  experience  in  being  near  him." 

"  Once  more,  what  are  you  doing  here  ? " 

"  There  was  a  time,  monsieur  le  marquis,  when 
my  presence  caused  you  no  weariness,  when  you 
told  me  with  the  most  tender  vows  that  you  would 
love  me  forever.  Remember  how  often  it  was 
necessary  to  repeat  those  vows  in  order  to  make 
me  yours." 

The  marquis  made  a  gesture  of  impatience  and 
exclaimed,  — 

"  And  is  it  to  tell  me  this  that  you  introduced 
yourself  at  night  into  my  chateau  ? " 

"  No,"  said  Julia,  giving  way  to  all  her  fury. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      225 

"Another  motive  led  me  to  this  place  ;  it  was  the 
hope  of  vengeance.  You  have  laughed  at  my 
love,  at  my  grief;  I  will  revel  in  your  sufferings, 
you  shall  shed  tears  of  blood  when  it  will  be  too 
late." 

"  This  is  too  much ;  your  threats  weary  and 
make  me  despise  you.  If  you  have  the  power 
to  fulfil  them,  why  are  you  waiting  for  your 
revenge  ? " 

"  I  am  awaiting  the  presence  of  an  indispen- 
sable witness,  your  worthy  confidant,  the  barber 
Touquet." 

Saying  these  words  Julia  glided  among  the 
trees,  and  disappeared  before  the  marquis  could 
stop  her.  Greatly  surprised  at  this  singular  meet- 
ing, he  was  careful  on  reentering  the  chateau  to 
warn  Germain ;  and  ordered  him  to  redouble  his 
watchfulness  in  order  that  no  one  might  gain 
access  to  Blanche. 


Vol.  VIII 


CHAPTER  XIII 

The  Marquis  Visits  Blanche  at  Night 

The  marquis  returned  in  great  agitation  to  his 
apartments.  He  was  greatly  incensed,  but  not 
at  all  intimidated  by  Julia's  threats,  which  he  at- 
tributed to  spite  and  her  jealousy.  However, 
despite  his  lack  of  consideration  for  her  he  had 
cast  off,  there  was  something  in  the  voice  of  the 
young  Italian  which  carried  conviction,  and  her 
eyes  appeared  to  be  animated  by  a  barbaric  joy 
when  she  had  fixed  them  on  those  of  the  marquis, 
and  warned  him  to  beware. 

Vexed  at  not  having  forced  Julia  to  explain 
herself,  Villebelle  called  his  valet,  and  ordered 
him  to  search  the  park  with  some  of  his  people, 
and  if  he  met  a  woman  to  bring  her  immediately 
to  the  chateau.  Germain,  the  gardener,  and  three 
men  servants  hastened  to  investigate  the  park  and 
gardens,  but  they  returned  to  the  chateau  without 
meeting  anybody,  and  the  marquis  passed  the 
night  in  reflecting  upon  the  event.  The  pres- 
ence of  Julia  had  disturbed  his  peace ;  he  feared 
that  she  would  come  and  bring  Blanche  news  of 
her  lover.  At  daybreak  he  wrote  to  the  barber 
and  ordered  him  to  come  to  the  chateau. 

326 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      227 

Marguerite  was  dead;  the  old  servant  could 
not  bear  the  loss  of  Blanche,  and  the  fury  of  her 
master  after  Julia's  visit.  The  barber,  who  had  for 
a  long  time  desired  to  sell  his  house,  was  about  to 
go  to  a  lawyer,  when  a  letter  was  brought  to  him 
by  a  messenger  from  the  marquis. 

"He  wishes  that  I  should  go  to  Sarcus,"  said 
Touquet  to  himself,  after  reading  the  note ;  "  the 
marquis  still  has  need  of  me.  He  has  at  times, 
an  inclination  for  virtue  which  causes  me  uneasi- 
ness, but  he  pays  generously  ;  besides  I  can  refuse 
him  nothing.  He  has  divined  a  part  of  my  con- 
duct, and  if  some  day  he  should  desire  to  ruin 
me  as  an  expiation  for  all  his  own  follies  —  for  it 
is  often  in  this  manner  that  great  folks  repair 
their  errors  —  but  no,  the  marquis  will  commit 
follies  as  long  as  he  lives ;  it  is  above  all  necessary 
that  he  should  triumph  over  Blanche's  virtue,  for 
that  would  insure  my  safety." 

Touquet  made  the  preparations  for  his  depar- 
ture, and  on  the  next  day  but  one  he  arrived  at 
the  chateau,  and  presented  himself  to  the  marquis, 
who  was  awaiting  him  in  his  apartment. 

"  You  see,  monseigneur,  with  what  haste  I  have 
obeyed  your  orders,"  said  the  barber,  bowing. 

"  That  is  well ;  your  presence  here  may  be  very 
useful  to  me.  I  feel  that  I  need  someone  who 
will  make  me  ashamed  of  my  weakness.  Would 
you  believe  that  I  am  no  further  advanced  in  re- 
gard to  Blanche  ? " 


228         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  I  shouldn't  believe  it  unless  you  told  me  so, 

monscigneur." 

"  It  is  certain  that  I  should  never  have  dreamed 
of  it  myself.  She  has  been  for  three  weeks  at  the 
chateau,  and  I  have  hardly  dared  to  kiss  her 
hand.  Some  days  ago  we  were  in  the  park,  and 
I  tried  to  advance  a  little  further,  but  she  suppli- 
cated me  to  let  her  go  in  so  touching  a  voice,  it 
affects  me  in  a  manner  which  I  cannot  account 
for,  but  I  was  nearly  heartbroken  at  having 
caused  her  pain ;  since  that  time  she  has  not  left 
her  room.  When  near  me,  she  is  fearful,  embar- 
rassed, and  always  in  tears." 

"  All  that  will  end,  when  you  have  made  her 
yours,  monseigneur." 

"  Have  you  seen  her  lover  ?  This  Urbain  of 
whom  she  talks  incessantly,  and  whom  she  calls 
at  every  moment  of  the  day." 

"  No,  monseigneur,  and  I  presume  that  young 
Urbain,  more  reasonable  than  Blanche,  has  al- 
ready forgotten  that  little  love  affair." 

"  The  poor  little  thing  is  always  thinking  of 
him.  If  I  could  persuade  her  that  he  no  longer 
loves  her,  —  she  would  not,  however,  believe  me. 
But  in  speaking  to  you  of  Blanche  I  forget  the 
motive  which  induced  me  to  send  for  you.  You 
can  never  divine  whom  I  met  the  day  before  yes- 
terday, in  the  evening,  in  my  park  —  Julia." 

"  Julia  !  "  cried  the  barber,  starting  with  sur- 
prise. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      229 

"  Yes,  she  had  entered  these  premises.  But  how 
could  she  have  discovered  that  I  was  here  ? " 

"  I  can't  imagine,  monseigneur." 

"She  had  the  audacity  to  threaten  me,  jeal- 
ousy and  rage  shone  in  her  eyes ;  she  also  spoke 
to  me  of  you.  I  didn't  understand  all  she  was 
saying  to  me,  and  she  disappeared  when  I  was 
about  to  force  her  to  explain  further." 

"  Monseigneur,  this  young  girl  has  some  evil 
design." 

"  I  think  that,  also.  However,  she  has  not  re- 
appeared since,  and  every  evening  my  people 
make  a  general  search  in  the  park." 

"  No  matter,  Julia  will  do  her  utmost  to  take 
Blanche  away  from  you." 

"  How  do  you  think  she  will  do  it  ?  You  must 
visit  the  neighborhood,  and  if  you  discover  Julia, 
tell  her  from  me  that  I  forbid  her  to  present  her- 
self on  these  premises.  If  she  still  dares  to  come 
I  can  easily  obtain  a  lettre-de-cachet,  which  will 
relieve  me  from  her  importunities." 

"  That  will  be  the  best  thing  you  can  do,  mon- 
seigneur.   Tomorrow  I'll  begin  my  researches." 

"  During  the  time  which  you  are  at  the  chateau, 
avoid  passing  through  the  park  by  the  side  of  the 
lake,  for  you  might  be  seen  by  Blanche,  and 
I  don't  wish  that  she  shall  know  you  are  here ;  I 
don't  think  that  the  sight  of  you  would  give  her 
pleasure,  and  I  desire  to  keep  her  from  all  that 
might  add  to  her  grief." 


230         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  I've  never  seen  monseigneur  so  much  in  love." 

"  No,  never  has  any  woman  inspired  me  with 
that  which  I  feel  for  Blanche." 

"  I'm  going  to  get  some  rest.  Tomorrow  at 
daybreak  I  shall  take  my  way ;  I  will  search  the 
neighborhood,  I  will  visit  the  smallest  cottages ; 
Julia  cannot  evade  my  search,  and  as  soon  as  I 
know  where  she  is,  I  answer  for  it,  monseigneur, 
that  you  will  not  see  her  again." 

The  barber  was  about  to  go  as  he  said  these 
words,  but  there  was  an  expression  on  his  face 
which  did  not  escape  the  marquis.  Villebelle  ran 
to  him  and  stopped  him,  saying  in  a  severe  tone, — 

"  Touquet,  you  have  misunderstood  me.  Re- 
member that  I  do  not  wish  that  any  harm  should 
come  to  Julia.  That  young  girl  is  passionate, 
headstrong,  but  her  love  excuses  it.  One  should 
always  forgive  the  faults  of  which  one  is  the  first 
cause.  I  should,  perhaps,  have  further  considered 
her  sensibility  ;  I  have  treated  her  with  too  much 
disdain.  If  she  will  consent  to  become  reason- 
able, promise  her  all  that  she  shall  ask.  Scatter 
gold,  that  she  may  be  happy.  In  addition  to  that, 
I  wish  to  speak  to  her  myself,  that  she  may  ex- 
plain to  me  what  she  wished  to  tell  in  her  letter." 

**  In  that  case,  monseigneur,  as  soon  as  I  have 
discovered  her  retreat,  I  will  hasten  to  let  you 
know  it." 

The  barber  bowed  low  to  the  marquis  and  left 
the  apartment. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      231 

"  That  man  is  a  deep  scoundrel,"  said  Ville- 
belle,  as  he  watched  Touquet  depart.  "  For  a  long 
time  I  thought  he  was  only  a  schemer  and  a  thief; 
why  should  he  still  be  necessary  to  me  ?  But  I 
can't  charge  Germain  to  speak  to  Julia.  Julia ! 
I  believed  for  a  little  while  that  I  loved  her.  Ah, 
what  a  difference  there  is  between  that  passionate, 
vindictive  woman  and  the  sweet  and  charming 
Blanche.  Why  should  Julia  love  me  so  passion- 
ately, and  yet  I  cannot  kindle  in  the  breast  of  that 
timid  child  a  spark  of  the  fire  which  consumes 
me?" 

While  the  marquis  was  dreaming  of  Blanche, 
who,  sad  and  solitary  in  her  lonely  room,  passed 
her  days  in  praying  to  Heaven  and  weeping  for 
her  lover,  Julia,  after  her  nocturnal  meeting  with 
Villebelle,  sought  to  gain  speech  with  the  young 
prisoner.  The  watchfulness  of  the  marquis'  peo- 
ple did  not  prevent  her  from  gliding  through  the 
park ;  but  though  she  drew  near  the  lake  it  was 
impossible  to  reach  the  tower;  they  had  taken 
away  all  the  boats  for  fear  that  one  of  them  should 
serve  as  a  means  of  approaching  Blanche's  win- 
dows. As  for  Chaudoreille,  being  ordered  to  watch 
all  who  entered  or  left  the  chateau,  he  hid  himself 
in  a  thick  bush,  which  was  about  two  cannon  shots 
from  the  entrance  to  the  castle  ;  and  there,  hav- 
ing Rolande  bare  at  one  side  by  way  of  precau- 
tion, and  a  bottle  of  wine  at  the  other,  he  passed 
his  day  with  a  pack  of  cards,  studying  a  new  man- 


232         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

ner  of  turning  the  king  and  of  re-turning  the  aces, 
hiding  entirely  under  his  immense  mantle  at  the 
slightest  sound. 

The  day  after  his  arrival  at  the  chateau,  the  bar- 
ber commenced  his  search.  Not  imagining  for  a 
moment  that  Julia  would  conceal  herself  at  Sarcus, 
he  visited  Damerancourt,  and  Grandvilliers,  and 
returned  towards  the  evening  to  Sarcus.  As  he 
approached  the  village,  he  perceived  in  front  of 
him  a  little  man  enveloped  in  a  brown  cloak, 
under  which  it  was  difficult  to  distinguish  his  body, 
but  a  long  sword,  whose  handle  protruded  from 
one  side  of  his  cloak,  betrayed  who  carried  it. 

"  It's  Chaudoreille,"  said  the  barber  to  himself, 
and  he  hastened  that  he  might  catch  up  with  him. 
The  little  man,  when  he  heard  someone  behind 
him,  was  seized  with  terror,  and  also  tried  to  walk 
faster,  but  the  unfortunate  cloak  entangled  his  legs 
at  every  step,  and  soon  he  felt  himself  pulled  by 
the  handle  of  his  sword.  He  turned  and  was  pet- 
rified at  seeing  the  barber  Touquet. 

**  Where  are  you  going.  Chevalier  Chaudo- 
reille ? "  said  the  barber,  in  a  mocking  tone. 

"  Where  am  I  going  ?  By  jingo  !  How  are  you, 
my  good  friend  ?  " 

**  You  clown,"  said  the  barber,"  IVe  heard  some 
fine  things  about  you.'*  ^ 

**  One  mustn't  believe  all  that  one  hears,  my 
dear  Touquet." 

"  And  don't  you  think  I  ought  to  believe  men- 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      233 

sieur  le  marquis  ?  It  was  you  who  told  him  about 
Blanche,  despite  your  vows." 

**  You  know  very  well  that  between  ourselves 
an  oath  is  not  binding,  and  what  have  you  to  com- 
plain of?  I  was  the  means  of  your  obtaining  a 
large  sum  of  money." 

"  And  do  you  serve  Julia  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  serve  Julia.  I  will  serve  you,  if  you 
wish,  I  will  serve  anybody ;  I  have  always  been 
very  obliging." 

"  Where  is  Julia  ?  " 

"  She  wishes  to  preserve  her  incognito." 

"Answer,  wretch,  no  more  lies." 

"  Ow  !  leave  go  of  my  ear,  you  are  hurting  me. 
We  are  lodging  in  this  village  at  the  inn ;  there  is 
only  one  here.  Julia  passes  as  my  sister,  and  I  for 
a  Moor  of  Granada,  professor  of  castanets." 

"  What  are  Julia's  plans  ?  " 

"  The  devil  carry  me  away  if  I  have  any  idea 
of  them.  She  passes  her  days  and  a  part  of  her 
nights  in  prowling  about  the  chateau,  like  a  fox 
watching  a  chicken.  Between  ourselves  I  believe 
she's  a  little  cracked." 

"And  with  what  design  did  she  bring  you 
here  ? " 

"  Simply  to  keep  her  company.  She  likes  my 
society  very  much,  I  sing  villanclles  to  her." 

"  Listen  to  me,  I  ought  to  break  your  back  to 
punish  you  for  what  you've  done." 

"  O  my  dear  Touquet,  that  was  a  joke." 


234         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Get  along  with  you,  I  despise  you  too  much 
to  strike  you." 

"  That's  very  civil  on  your  part." 

"  Have  you  told  me  the  truth  ?  '* 

"  If  you  doubt  it,  come  with  me  to  the  inn. 
Julia  will  not  be  long  before  she  comes  in." 

"  No,  I  can't  go  there  this  evening ;  but  I  for- 
bid you  to  say  a  word  to  her  about  our  meet- 

ing." 

"  As  soon  as  you  forbid  me,  it's  as  if  you  had 
cut  out  my  tongue." 

"  If  I  don't  find  Julia  tomorrow  in  the  place 
you  have  told  me  of,  monsieur  le  marquis  himself 
will  see  that  you  are  punished,  and  this  time  there 
will  be  no  quarter  given  you." 

"You  may  be  sure  I'll  obey  you." 
"  Good-by,  I'm  going  back  to  the  chateau." 
"  And  I  to  the  village  —  where  I  shall  not  await 
your  visit,"  said  Chaudoreille,  in  a  low  tone,  gath- 
ering his  cloak  up  under  his  arm  that  he  might 
walk  more  quickly. 

Touquet  returned  to  the  chateau  and  sought  the 
marquis.  It  was  night,  and  Villebelle  was  seated 
before  a  table  as  sumptuously  furnished  as  was 
possible  at  the  chateau  ;  but  the  marquis,  presum- 
ing that  he  should  make  a  long  sojourn  there,  had 
had  his  cellars  replenished,  and  if  the  fare  was  not 
so  delicate  as  in  Paris,  the  wines  were  no  less  ex- 
quisite. The  marquis  appeared  gayer  than  usual. 
He  had  already  emptied  several  bottles,  and  near 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       235 

him  were  several  letters  which  he  read  while  sup- 

"  What  news  ?  "  said  he,  on  perceiving  the  bar- 
ber. 

"  My  researches  have  not  proved  vain,  mon- 
seigneur,  Julia  is  at  the  village ;  she  is  living  at 
the  inn  under  an  assumed  name.  I  have  seen 
Chaudoreille,  who  is  now  her  confidant." 

"Ah,  the  little  Gascon.  Have  you  thrashed 
him  soundly  ? " 

"  Not  yet,  monseigneur,  I  wished  first  to  get 
your  orders,  and  I  have  not  seen  Julia.'* 

**  You  have  done  well,  I  will  speak  to  her  my- 
self. Tomorrow  we  will  go  together  to  the  vil- 
lage ;  I  shall  make  the  heedless  girl  hear  reason, 
and  we  shall  know  this  grand  secret  which  she  pre- 
tends she  has  to  tell  me." 

"  A  secret  ? " 

"Yes,  and  it's  necessary,  she  says,  that  you 
should  be  present  when  she  tells  it." 

"  Me  ?  monseigneur." 

**  Tomorrow  she  shall  be  satisfied.  Do  you  see 
those  letters  ?  All  of  those  were  sent  to  me  from 
Paris.  They  are  from  the  great  ladies  who  regret 
me ;  there  are  reproaches,  promises,  vows,  and  a 
little  of  everything.  Here,  throw  all  that  in  the 
fire." 

"  What,  monsieur  le  marquis,  even  those  which 
are  unopened  ? " 

"  Yes,  of  course ;  do  they  not  all  say  the  same 


236         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

thing?  Ah,  a  single  smile  from  Blanche  is  worth 
all  the  sweet  nothings  of  these  ladies.  Why  is 
she  not  here,  near  me  ? " 

"  If  monseigneur  desires  it  —  " 

"That  she  may  come  with  her  eyes  full  of 
tears  ?     No." 

The  marquis  filled  a  large  glass  with  wine, 
which  he  drank  at  a  draught,  when  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  I'm  commencing,  however,  to  fear  that  I  sigh 
in  vain ;  Blanche  is  near  me,  in  my  chateau,  but 
I  dare  not  —  but  to  employ  violence,  I  cannot 
resort  to  that." 

"Without  employing  violence,  monseigneur, 
are  there  not  a  thousand  ways  ?  She  sleeps  un- 
defended—  and  you  have  double  keys  to  all  the 
rooms." 

"  What  perfidy  !  " 

"  Not  greater,  monseigneur,  than  taking  her  in 
a  carriage,  telling  her  that  she  was  going  to  join 
Urbain." 

"  Be  silent,  you  are  a  monster ;  and  to  listen 
to  your  horrible  counsels  renders  me  more  crimi- 
nal than  yourself." 

"It  was  not  I,  monseigneur,  who  counselled 
you  to  fall  in  love  with  Blanche,  but  since  she  is 
in  your  power,  it  seems  to  me  that  your  scruples 
are  a  little  tardy." 

The  marquis  remained  silent  for  some  moments ; 
then  he  resumed, — 

"  This  morning  she  spoke  to  me  less  coldly ;  I 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK     237 

remained  several  hours  with  her ;  she  seemed  to 
me  less  timid.  I  took  her  hand,  and  she  left  it 
for  a  long  time  in  mine." 

"  What  more  do  you  wish  for,  monseigneur  ? 
In  secret  Blanche  loves  you ;  but  do  you  think 
that  so  timid  a  young  girl  will  confess  what  is 
passing  in  her  heart?  It  is  not  until  after  she 
has  yielded  that  she  banishes  all  constraint." 

"  Blanche  loves  me,  say  you  ?  Ah,  if  it  were 
true.  But  it  is  late ;  go  and  take  some  rest. 
Tomorrow  we  will  go  and  see  Julia." 

Touquet  bowed  to  the  marquis,  and  looked 
stealthily  and  scrutinizingly  at  him  ;  then  he  took 
a  candle,  and  departed  in  silence.  For  a  long 
while  the  marquis  remained  at  the  table,  buried  in 
thought,  or  drinking  glass  after  glass  of  wine. 
He  seemed  to  wish  to  drown  in  the  liquor  the 
thoughts  which  pursued  him.  Finally  he  rang 
for  Germain,  and  said  to  him  in  a  gloomy  voice,  — 

"  Who  has  the  double  keys  to  the  chateau  ? " 

"  The  porter  should  have  them,  monseigneur." 

"  Bid  him  come  here,  I  wish  to  speak  to  him." 

The  old  porter  hastened  to  obey  his  master's 
orders. 

"  Are  there  some  double  keys  for  these  apart- 
ments ?  "  said  the  marquis. 

"  Yes,  monseigneur,  there  are  even  triple  keys ; 
'tis  an  ancient  usage  that  dates  from  —  " 

"  Go  and  get  me  those  of  the  tower  which 
looks  on  the  lake." 


238         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

The  porter  departed,  and  soon  returned  with 
a  bunch  of  keys,  saying, — 

"If  monseigneur  wishes  I  will  conduct  him 
through  the  chateau," 

"  Give  me  those  and  go,  I  do  not  need  your 
assistance,"  said  the  marquis,  snatching  the  keys 
from  his  hand. 

The  old  man,  stupefied,  bowed  and  departed, 
without  daring  to  raise  his  eyes  on  his  master. 
The  marquis  dismissed  his  servants,  saying  that 
he  had  need  of  rest,  and  presently  the  most  pro- 
found silence  reigned  in  the  chateau  and  in  the 
grounds  pertaining  to  it. 

As  for  the  Marquis  de  Villebelle,  he  walked  ir- 
resolutely about  his  apartment,  holding  the  bunch 
of  keys  in  his  hand,  and  meditating  deeply.  He 
was  apparently  still  undecided  as  to  what  course 
he  should  take,  and  muttered  to  himself  from 
time  to  time, — 

"  No,  I  cannot  make  use  of  these  keys  —  she 
seemed  to  give  me  her  confidence  and  I  dare  not 
abuse  it ;  but  must  she  pass  her  life  thus  ?  To  be 
so  near  her,  to  have  abducted  her  in  vain.  What 
would  all  the  libertines  say  of  me,  all  the  people 
of  fashion,  if  they  knew  of  my  conduct  ?  But  if 
they  could  see  Blanche  !  Why  did  that  cursed 
Touquet  speak  to  me  of  these  keys  ?  I  should 
have  divined  that  when  he  entered  this  chateau, 
that  man  would  advise  me  to  commit  some  wicked 
action." 


I 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      239 

Some  moments  passed,  and  at  last  the  marquis 
took  up  a  candle,  and  exclaimed, — 

"It  is  settled ;  I  will  listen  only  to  the  passion 
which  leads  me.'* 

He  left  his  room,  which  was  separated  from 
the  tower  where  Blanche  was  lodged  by  a  long 
gallery  adorned  with  portraits  of  the  marquis' 
ancestors.  Villebelle  walked  slowly,  pausing  often 
to  listen,  and  trembling  for  fear  he  should  meet 
someone ;  he  kept  his  eyes  down,  and  seemed 
afraid  to  look  at  the  portraits  of  his  ancestors, 
who,  for  the  most  part,  had  honored  their  country 
by  their  bravery  and  virtue.  At  this  moment 
something  told  him  he  was  about  to  commit  an 
act  which  was  unworthy  of  the  name  which  they 
had  transmitted  to  him,  and  when  his  eyes  met 
by  chance  one  of  those  noble  faces  with  which 
the  gallery  was  hung,  he  seemed  to  read  in  it  an 
expression  of  indignation  and  scorn.  At  last  he 
reached  the  end  of  the  gallery,  and  never  had  it 
seemed  to  him  so  long;  he  mounted  a  grand 
staircase,  crossed  several  rooms,  and  entered  the 
tower  which  held  the  young  girl.  A  violent 
trembling  seized  him.  Wishing  to  master  his 
uneasiness,  he  hastened  his  walk.  All  the  doors 
of  communication  were  open,  and  he  soon  found 
Blanche's  room.  He  paused,  and  looked  at  the 
keys  which  he  held  in  his  hand  ;  he  still  hesitated, 
but,  seeking  to  deaden  himself  to  the  crime  which 
he  was  about  to  commit,  he  tried  several  keys. 


240         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

and  was  soon  in  Blanche's  room.  The  deepest 
silence  reigned  in  this  place  ;  the  marquis  stepped 
very  softly,  taking  each  step  with  precaution. 
The  door  of  the  bedroom  was  not  closed.  Ville- 
belle  looked  in,  and  by  the  light  of  the  lamp 
placed  on  the  hearth,  perceived  the  young  girl 
asleep. 

"  She  sleeps,"  said  the  marquis ;  "  she  thinks 
herself  safe  in  this  shelter,  but  her  breathing  is 
oppressed  ;  she  seems  as  though  she  were  going  to 
speak ;  if  I  could  but  hear  her." 

He  approached  the  bed.  Blanche  was  dream- 
ing of  her  lover ;  softly  she  breathed  Urbain's 
name,  and  extended  her  arms  as  if  imploring 
someone ;  then  she  murmured,  — 

"  O  dear  God  1  they  still  keep  us  apart.'* 

Villebelle  felt  moved  and  softened. 

"  No,  she  does  not  love  me,"  said  he  softly ; 
"  in  her  sleep  she  is  always  thinking  of  Urbain." 

He  sighed  profoundly,  and  was  about  to  depart, 
when  Blanche  awakened,  opened  her  eyes,  and 
called  out  in  terror, — 

"  O  heavens  !  who  is  there  ?  " 

"  It  is  I,  Blanche,"  answered  the  marquis  in  a 
halting  voice. 

"  You  seigneur  ?  so  late  in  my  room  ?  What 
do  you  want  with  me  ?  " 

"  Be  calm,  I  beg  of  you." 

"  But  you  arc  trembling  yourself,  seigneur, 
what  has  happened  ? " 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      241 

"  Nothing,  nothing;  I  wished  to  see  you  —  to 
speak,  to  you,  to  look  at  you  once  more." 

"  Ah,  don't  look  at  me  so,  monsieur  le  marquis, 
you  frighten  me." 

"  Frighten  you  ?  Ah,  Blanche,  is  that  the  feel- 
ing with  which  the  most  faithful  lover  should  in- 
spire you  ?  Yes,  my  love  is  at  its  height ;  I  can 
no  longer  master  it ;  you  must  make  me  happy ; 
you  must  be  mine." 

The  marquis  already  held  Blanche  in  his  arms. 
The  young  girl  uttered  a  piercing  cry,  and  gath- 
ering her  strength,  disengaged  herself,  jumping 
lightly  from  her  bed,  but  Villebelle  again  seized 
her ;  he  tried  to  cover  her  with  kisses ;  he  tried 
to  stifle  her  cries.  Blanche  threw  herself  at  his 
feet,  extended  her  arms  towards  him,  supplicat- 
ingly,  and  cried  in  a  heart-breaking  voice,  — 

"  Mercy !  mercy  1  if  only  for  today." 

These  accents  penetrated  to  the  depths  of  the 
marquis'  soul.  The  sight  of  Blanche  at  his  feet, 
of  her  tears  and  of  her  despair,  restored  him  to 
reason,  but  fearing  that  he  might  no  longer  be 
able  to  master  his  passion,  he  precipitately  left 
the  young  girl,  and  distractedly  fled  to  his  room. 


voi.vin 


CHAPTER   XIV 

Urbain's   Visit  to  the   Marquis.     Chaudo- 
reille's  Last  Adventure 

Blanche  remained  motionless  and  silent  for 
a  long  time  in  the  place  where  she  had  implored, 
and  her  loveliness  and  the  nameless  charm  of  her 
innocence  had  obtained,  the  pity,  the  forbearance 
of  a  man  who  had  been  about  to  wrong  her  wo- 
manhood. At  last  a  flood  of  tears  relieved  her 
heart.  She  rose  and  then  looked  about  her  with 
terror ;  she  listened  tremblingly ;  at  the  least 
sound  caused  by  the  wind  on  the  lake  she  shud- 
dered, and  imagined  she  heard  the  marquis  return- 
ing.   She  passed  the  night  in  cruel  anxiety. 

"  All  is  over,"  she  said,  weeping ;  "  my  hope 
of  happiness  is  completely  shattered.  O  my  well- 
beloved  Urbain,  I  shall  see  you  no  more;  they 
will  separate  us  forever,  but  I  will  die  rather  than 
cease  to  be  worthy  of  thee." 

The  marquis  had  rested  no  better  than  his  vic- 
tim. Divided  between  love  and  remorse,  regret- 
ting at  times  having  yielded  to  what  he  called  his 
weakness,  and  cursing  a  passion  which  made 
Blanche  unhappy,  he  saw  day  break  without  hav- 
ing closed  his  eyes. 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        243 

Astonished  at  having  received  no  orders  in 
regard  to  Julia,  Touquet  presented  himself  before 
the  marquis ;  he  remarked  the  dejection  of  the 
latter's  features,  and  sought  to  divine  the  cause 
of  it.  Villebelle's  gloomy  and  melancholy  tone 
did  not  indicate  that  he  was  happy;  he  remained 
silent,  and  the  barber  dared  not  question  him. 
At  this  moment  Germain  entered  the  room,  and 
announced  to  his  master  that  a  young  man  had 
presented  himself  at  the  chateau,  and  begged  the 
favor  of  speech  with  him. 

"  A  young  man  ? "  said  the  marquis.  "  Is  he 
an  inhabitant  of  the  neighborhood  ?  " 

"  No,  monseigneur,  his  dress  is  that  of  a  young 
student ;  he  expresses  himself  well,  and  appears 
to  have  the  greatest  desire  to  see  you." 

"  He  did  not  tell  you  his  name  ?'* 

"  He  says  that  you  know  him  without  knowing 
his  name.** 

"  How  very  singular,  can  he  be  a  messenger 
from  Julia?  "  said  Villebelle,  looking  at  the  barber. 

"  I  don't  think  so,  monsieur  le  marquis.  The 
description  which  Germain  has  given  of  the 
stranger  is  not  that  of  Chaudoreille." 

"  When  they  introduce  this  young  man,  Tou- 
quet, step  into  the  next  room ;  it  is  possible  he 
wishes  to  speak  to  me  alone." 

The  barber  departed  and  Germain  returned  with 
Urbain,  who,  having  travelled  without  stopping, 
had  arrived  at  Sarcus,  and  was  waiting  impatiently 


244         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

at  the  porter's  lodge  for  the  answer  which  the 
marquis  should  send  him." 

"  My  master  consents  to  see  you.  Follow  me, 
monsieur,  I  will  take  you  to  him,"  said  Germain 
to  Urbain  ;  the  latter  joyfully  hastened  to  follow 
the  valet,  who  introduced  him  to  the  marquis. 

Urbain  entered  the  room  trembling ;  approach- 
ing with  embarrassment  the  great  nobleman,  who 
was  seated  on  a  sofa,  and  who  looked  curiously  at 
the  young  man,  unable  to  resist  a  certain  interest 
which  Urbain's  refined  and  distinguished  face  in- 
spired. 

"  Deign  to  excuse,  seigneur,  the  liberty  which 
I  take,"  said  the  young  bachelor,  bowing  low  to 
the  marquis. 

"  Speak,  monsieur,  what  do  you  want  of  me  ?  ** 

"  I  come  to  implore  your  protection.  You  gave 
me  permission  to  have  recourse  to  it.  We  have 
already  seen  each  other  at  Paris,  some  time  ago ; 
I  was  disguised,  I  met  you  at  night  in  the  Grand 
Pre-aux-Clercs,  fought  a  duel  —  " 

"  What,  my  brave  fellow,  was  that  you,  who 
were  dressed  as  a  girl  ?  " 

**  Yes,  seigneur,  I  had  the  misfortune  to  wound 
you  in  the  arm." 

"  And  I  tell  you  that  that  was  just,  for  I  was 
wrong,  as  I  usually  am.  Hang  it !  I'm  delighted 
to  see  you  again ;  give  me  your  hand,  you  arc  a 
brave  fellow." 

The  marquis  rose,  came  towards  Urbain  and 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      245 

cordially  shook  him  by  the  hand.  The  latter,  de- 
lighted by  this  welcome,  did  not  know  how  to 
evince  his  gratitude. 

"  Seat  yourself  near  me/*  said  Villebelle,  "  and 
tell  me  what  has  procured  me  the  pleasure  of  re- 
ceiving you  in  my  chateau." 

"  Monseigneur,  you  had  the  goodness  to  offer 
me  your  protection  if  I  were  unfortunate,  and  I 
come  to  claim  it." 

"  You  do  well,  my  dear  fellow ;  speak  without 
fear.  Is  it  money  that  you  need,  I  have  it  at  your 
service  ;  don't  spare  it,  I  often  enough  make  a  bad 
use  of  it,  once  at  least  let  it  serve  me  in  making 
somebody  happy." 

"  Fortune  could  not  render  me  happy,  for  it  is 
love  which  causes  my  trouble,  monseigneur." 

"  Oh,  you  are  in  love ;  that's  different,  I  am  in 
love,  also ;  and  at  this  moment  it  does  not  make 
me  very  happy,  either.  But  come,  tell  me  your 
love  affairs." 

"I  love,  I  adore,  a  charming  young  girl  —  ah, 
monseigneur,  there  is  nobody  to  be  compared  to 
her." 

"  Perhaps,  but  go  on." 

"  She  did  not  know  her  parents,  but  the  man 
who  had  brought  her  up  gave  me  her  hand.  Only 
one  day  and  we  should  have  been  united,  when  a 
wretch  introduced  himself  into  the  house  where 
she  lived  and  carried  off  from  me  the  one  who 
was  about  to  become  my  wife." 


246         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  That's  very  singular,"  said  the  marquis,  struck 
by  Urbain's  recital,  "  and  do  you  know  the  name 
of  this  ravisher  ?  '* 

"  No,  monsieur  le  marquis,  but  after  that  I 
learned  that  it  was  a  great  nobleman,  a  rich  and 
powerful  man  —  Ah,  my  only  hope  of  discover- 
ing this  monster  lies  in  you,  for  you  perhaps  know 
the  place  where  he  lives.  Monseigneur,  have  pity 
on  my  torture,  help  me  to  recover  her  whom  they 
have  stolen  from  me,  help  me  to  recover  Blanche, 
and  the  unfortunate  Urbain  will  owe  you  more 
than  life." 

At  the  name  of  Blanche  the  marquis  rose  ab- 
ruptly. Urbain  threw  himself  at  his  feet,  seized 
one  of  his  hands  and  looked  imploringly  at  him  ; 
but  Villebelle  turned  his  head  that  the  young  man 
might  not  see  the  change  which  had  come  over 
his  face. 

**  Get  up,  get  up,"  said  the  marquis,  seeking  to 
master  his  emotion ;  "  I  wish  to  serve  you,  yes, 
but  I  cannot  promise  to  restore  to  you  the  one 
whom  you  have  loved." 

"  Among  the  noblemen  of  the  court,  there  are 
men  who  glory  in  betraying  innocence  and  snatch- 
ing a  young  girl  from  her  relations  ;  seigneur,  if 
you  have  the  least  suspicion  —  sometimes  the 
slightest  indication  will  put  one  on  the  track." 

The  marquis  appeared  to  reflect  deeply ;  Ur- 
bain, who  believed  that  he  sought  to  recall  some 
circumstance  which  had  interested  him,  waited  with 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK     247 

most  lively  anxiety  for  him  to  speak.  After  a 
long  silence  Villebelle  said,  — 

"  You  are  very  young,  Urbain." 

"  I  am  nineteen  years  old,  seigneur." 

"  This  —  Blanche  is,  no  doubt,  the  first  woman 
whom  you  have  loved  ?  " 

"Yes,  seigneur,  and  she  will  be  the  last." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  my  friend  ;  at  your  age 
one  loves  ardently,  but  it  is  a  flame  which  quickly 
evaporates.  It  is  only  to  one  like  me  that  — 
bereft  of  the  illusions  of  youth  and  wearied  with 
change  —  a  true  love  is  a  need  of  the  heart 
and  should  be  an  insurmountable  feeUng.  Like 
you,  at  nineteen  years  of  age,  I  believed  that  I 
should  love  for  life ;  I  deceived  myself.  Believe 
me,  you  will  still  be  happy." 

"  Without  Blanche  ?   That  is  impossible." 

"  You  have  some  little  fortune  ? " 

"  I  have  a  little  country  house  which  my  father 
left  me,  and  twelve  hundred  livres  income." 

"  With  so  little,  distraction  is  not  easy.  I  wish 
that  you  could  taste  some  of  the  pleasures  of  your 
age,  and  in  their  vortex  you  would  soon  forget 
your  first  love." 

"  I  thank  you,  seigneur,  but  I  cannot  accept 
your  benefits.  I  repeat  to  you,  I  can  never  taste 
pleasure  separated  from  her  I  love." 

"  Well,  what  I  have  offered  you  would  facili- 
tate your  researches.  Do  not  refuse  me,  it  is  only 
on  that  condition  that  I  promise  you  to  second 


248         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

your  efforts.  Wait  for  me  here,  do  not  leave  this 
room." 

So  saying,  the  marquis  went  into  the  room 
where  Touquet  was  waiting. 

"  Urbain  is  there,"  said  he,  "the  young  stranger 
who  asked  to  sec  me  is  Blanche's  lover." 

"  I  know  it,  seigneur,  I  recognized  his  voice 
und  I  listened." 

"  He  comes  to  beg  my  help  in  discovering  the 
abductor  of  her  he  loves." 

"He  could  not  better  address  himself." 

"  I  almost  felt  ready  to  give  him  his  sweet- 
heart." 

"What  folly!" 

"  But  Blanche's  image  is  too  deeply  graven  in 
my  heart.  However,  I  wish  to  try  and  indem- 
nify poor  Urbain  for  the  evil  which  I  have  caused 
him  ;  and  the  power  of  gold  —  " 

"  It  is  the  remedy  for  all  evils,  seigneur." 

"  Yes,  to  a  venial  soul  like  yours ;  you  have 
never  known  the  sweetness  of  love." 

"  But  it  is  necessary,  seigneur,  to  get  rid  of  this 
young  man  for  a  long  time.  What  prevents  you 
—  by  means  of  false  advice  —  from  sending  him 
to  England,  to  Turkey,  to  the  devil  even  ? " 

"In  fact,  I  comprehend." 

"  Travel  will  distract  him  from  his  love ;  you 
arc  a  generous  rival.  Some  others  in  your  place, 
profiting  by  the  occasion,  would  shut  this  young 
man  up  in  some  dungeon  in  this  chateau." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      249 

"  Oh,  how  horrible !  to  betray  the  confidence 
of  this  mere  boy." 

"In  place  of  that  you  will  give  him  money,  so 
that  he  can  live  like  a  great  lord." 

"  Could  I  ever  pay  him  for  the  treasure  I  have 
taken  from  him  ? " 

The  marquis  opened  a  desk,  took  sixty  thou- 
sand livres  in  notes,  which  he  placed  in  a  pocket- 
book  and  returned  to  find  Urbain.  The  young 
bachelor,  as  he  noted  the  elegance  of  the  interior 
of  the  chateau,  said  to  himself,  — 

"It  is,  perhaps,  in  a  similar  abode  that  Blanche 
is  lamenting  at  this  moment." 

"In  thinking  of  what  you  have  told  me,"  said 
Villebelle,  "  I  recall  certain  circumstances  which 
might,  perhaps,  put  you  on  the  track  of  her  whom 
you  are  seeking." 

**  O  monsieur  le  marquis,  deign  to  tell  me." 

"  The  Marquis  de  Chavagnac  has  often  made 
people  talk  about  him  by  abducting  beautiful  girls ; 
he  has  suddenly  left  Paris,  and  one  may  presume 
that  it  was  on  some  similar  adventure." 

"  Ah,  it  is  he  who  has  stolen  Blanche  from  me." 

"  Remember  well  that  I  do  not  affirm  any- 
thing." 

"  And  does  anyone  know  to  which  of  his  cha- 
teaux he  has  gone  ?  " 

"He  is  not  in  France,  and,  according  to  what 
I  have  learned,  has  betaken  himself  to  Italy." 

"  To  Italy  ?   Then  that  is  where  I  must  go." 


2SO         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Take  this  pocketbook  as  a  mark  of  my  es- 
teem, and  do  not  spare  that  which  it  holds." 

"  Seigneur,  I  do  not  know  if  I  should." 

"  Believe  my  experience ;  with  gold  one  may 
gain  the  duennas,  one  may  seduce  jailers,  one  may 
surmount  many  obstacles." 

"It  will  be  to  you,  then,  that  I  shall  owe  my 
happiness,  my  felicity.  O  seigneur,  I  do  not  know 
how  to  express  my  gratitude  to  you." 

"  Go,  Urbain,  make  a  tour  of  Italy,  and  per- 
haps you  will  there  find  happiness." 

The  young  bachelor  still  wished  to  express  to 
the  marquis  all  his  gratitude,  but  the  latter  would 
not  permit  him,  and  again  wishing  him  a  pleasant 
journey,  he  rang  for  Germain,  who  conducted 
Urbain  to  the  door  of  the  chateau.  Hardly  had 
the  young  lover  quitted  the  marquis*  apartments, 
when  Villebelle  called  Touquet,  and  ordered  him 
to  follow  Urbain  at  a  distance,  and  not  to  lose 
sight  of  him  until  he  was  certain  that  the  bachelor 
had  left  Sarcus.  Urbain  departed*  penetrated 
with  gratitude  to  the  marquis,  but  while  passing 
through  the  great  gate,  he  experienced  a  sadness 
for  which  he  could  not  account.  He  could  hardly 
leave  the  chateau,  and  turned  to  cast  a  last  glance 
at  the  antique  towers  of  Sarcus.  Wrapped  in 
thought,  he  walked  slowly  down  the  first  road 
which  he  came  to,  greatly  touched  at  the  welcome 
which  he  had  received  at  the  chateau.  He  hoped, 
thanks  to  the  benevolence  of  the  marquis,  soon 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      251 

to  be  in  Italy,  not  doubting  that  it  could  be  any 
other  than  the  Seigneur  de  Chavagnac  who  had 
carried  Blanche  off. 

Urbain  had  already  gone  some  distance  from 
the  chateau,  and  was  about  to  enter  a  lane  which 
led  to  the  village,  when  a  shout  of,  "  Take  care 
there ! "  made  him  raise  his  head,  and  he  saw 
before  him  a  man  on  horseback.  The  rider, 
however,  managed  his  horse  so  badly  that  the 
animal  was  standing  across  the  path,  having  his 
head  resting  on  a  bush,  to  which  he  seemed  to  be 
attached. 

"  By  jingo !  won't  you  turn,  proud  animal ; 
beware  lest  in  place  of  the  spur  I  bury  Rolande's 
point  in  your  side.  Take  care  there,  what  the 
deuce  1     My  horse  is  skittish,  you  frighten  him." 

The  voice  and  accent  of  the  chevalier  immedi- 
ately struck  Urbain ;  he  recognized  the  man  who 
had  made  an  appointment  with  him  at  the  Porte 
Montmartre.  Chaudoreille,  after  his  meeting 
with  the  barber,  had  had  no  thought  except  to 
leave  the  neighborhood  of  the  chateau,  and  with- 
out making  his  resolution  known  to  Julia,  who 
would,  he  was  very  certain,  oppose  it,  he  had 
waited  till  the  next  day,  when  she  had  left  the  inn ; 
then,  taking  the  bag  which  contained  the  effects 
and  money  of  his  companion,  he  had  sold  one  of 
their  horses  and,  under  the  pretext  of  exploring 
the  neighborhood  had  started  on  his  way,  with 
the  intention  of  escaping  to  parts  unknown.    But 


252         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

the  fugitive  did  not  know  how  to  hold  his  horse, 
although  since  his  journey  to  Sarcus  he  had  be- 
lieved himself  one  of  the  best  jockeys  in  France. 
Continually  twitching  the  bridle  of  his  horse  for 
fear  the  animal  should  run  away,  it  had  taken 
him  an  hour  to  cover  barely  half  a  mile  of  road. 
He  commenced  to  fear  that  he  could  not  depart 
quickly  enough  by  this  mode  of  travel,  when 
Urbain  met  him  in  the  little  lane,  which  the 
horse  refused  to  leave. 

Urbain,  delighted  at  seeing  the  man  again  who 
had  promised  to  tell  him  the  name  of  Blanche's 
ravisher,  uttered  a  joyful  exclamation,  and  ran 
towards  Chaudoreille.  The  sudden  cry  and  ap- 
proach of  the  young  man  frightened  the  horse, 
which  jumped,  and  sent  his  rider  six  feet  from 
him  into  a  thick  hedge. 

"  All  the  bones  in  my  body  are  broken,"  cried 
Chaudoreille,  while  falling. 

Urbain  ran  to  help  him  up,  and  to  make  his 
excuses,  but  the  chevalier  drew  away  from  him, 
and  while  rubbing  himself  looked  at  Urbain,  who 
did  not  cease  to  repeat,  — 

"  I  am  Blanche's  lover,  the  young  man  whom 
you  met  that  night,  and  whom  you  promised  to 
meet  at  Porte  Montmartre.'* 

"  My  faith,  that's  true,  I  recognize  you  now ; 
but  why  the  deuce  did  you  run  at  me,  and  shout 
80  loud  ?  This  is  the  first  time  that  I  have  been 
unhorsed." 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      2S3 

"  Monsieur,  oblige  me  by  keeping  your  prom- 
ise ;  tell  me  the  name  of  Blanche's  abductor.  I 
can  now  recompense  you  beyond  your  hopes." 

"  Hush ! "  said  Chaudoreille,  drawing  Urbain 
towards  the  hedge  which  hid  them  from  sight  of 
the  chateau ;  "  imprudent  young  man,  don't  speak 
so  loud." 

"Why  not?" 

"  Silence,  I  tell  you.  What !  you  are  at  Sarcus, 
and  you  don't  know  the  name  of  your  sweet- 
heart's abductor  ? " 

"  No,  of  course  not ;  I  came  to  beg  the  Mar- 
quis de  Villebelle's  protection,  and  thanks  to  him 
I  hope  —  " 

"  Oh,  for  once  this  is  too  much  !  Young  man, 
you  interest  me.  I  am  about  to  risk  myself  for 
you ;  but  you  have  promised  me  a  liberal  recom- 
pense." 

"  Here,  take  this  gold,  these  notes,  and  speak 
at  once." 

"  Your  sweetheart's  abductor  is  no  other  than 
the  Marquis  de  Villebelle." 

"  The  marquis  ?  " 

"Why  yes,  by  jingo!  and  your  little  girl  is 
now  at  the  Chateau  de  Sarcus." 

"  No,  that  is  not  possible ;  you  are  deceiving 
me.    The  marquis  has  heaped  benefits  upon  me." 

"  The  better  to  disarm  your  suspicions.  Zounds ! 
how  young  you  still  are.  I  tell  you  that  your 
Blanche  is  at  the  chateau,  and  that  the  barber — " 


254         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  Is  before  you,"  said  a  stern  voice,  which  came 
from  the  other  side  of  the  hedge,  and,  at  the  same 
moment,  the  foUage  parted  and  Touquet  appeared 
before  the  astonished  Urbain ;  while  Chaudoreille, 
whose  legs  failed  him  at  this  sudden  apparition, 
fell  again  into  the  hedge,  muttering, — 

"  It's  the  devil." 

"  This  wretch  has  not  told  you  all.  Seigneur 
Urbain,"  said  the  barber.  "  Under  pretext  of 
serving  you  he  has  given  you  some  half  con- 
fidences, but  I  wish  you  should  know  all  the  ob- 
ligation under  which  you  lie  to  him.  You  were 
about  to  wed  Blanche,  and  nothing  was  opposed 
to  your  marriage ;  the  marquis  had  never  heard 
of  that  young  girl,  whom  I  had  carefully  kept  from 
his  sight,  foreseeing  to  what  excesses  he  would  be 
carried  ,*  but  Chaudoreille,  in  spite  of  his  promises, 
gave  the  marquis  a  most  seductive  portrait  of  your 
sweetheart  and  told  him  of  your  approaching  mar- 
riage. Finally,  it  is  to  him  that  you  owe  Blanche's 
abduction  and  the  loss  of  your  happiness.  An- 
swer, clown,  is  not  this  the  truth  ? " 

"  I  cannot  deny  it,"  answered  the  chevalier, 
half  dead  with  fright,  "  however,  circumstances — " 

"  Wretch  !  "  cried  Urbain,  **  you  are  the  cause 
of  all  my  suffering,  defend  yourself.  The  first 
act  of  my  vengeance  shall  be  your  death." 

While  travelling,  Urbain  carried  a  sword ;  he 
drew  his  weapon  from  the  scabbard  and  advanced 
towards  Chaudoreille,  but  the  words,  "  by  your 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      255 

death,"  and  the  sight  of  the  naked  sword  put  new 
strength  into  the  legs  of  the  little  man.  Abandon- 
ing the  cloak  which  impeded  his  flight,  he  ran  with 
all  his  might,  pursued  by  Urbain,  who  still  threat- 
ened him  with  his  sword  ;  while  the  barber,  mount- 
ing Chaudoreille's  horse,  went  at  full  gallop  to  the 
chateau.  The  chevalier,  who  imagined  that  he 
felt  the  point  of  Urbain's  sword  pricking  his  back, 
redoubled  his  speed  ;  but  Urbain,  animated  by  a 
desire  for  vengeance,  had  very  nearly  caught  up 
to  him,  and  was  not  more  than  twenty  paces  be- 
hind him  when  they  entered  the  village.  This 
flying  man,  pursued  by  another  with  a  sword  in 
his  hand,  attracted  everyone's  attention. 

"  Out  of  the  way  !  out  of  the  way ! "  cried  Chau- 
doreille  to  the  crowd,  while  Urbain  shouted, — 

"  Stop  that  wretch." 

The  innkeeper  who  was  at  his  door  said, — 

"Why,  that's  Monsieur  Malek-Al-Chiras, 
Castanet  teacher.  What  can  he  have  done  with 
his  Arabian  steed  ? " 

The  fugitive  entered  the  first  door  that  he  found 
open,  which  was  one  in  the  house  of  an  old  dow- 
ager. Chaudoreille  mounted  the  staircase  ;  arrived 
at  the  first  floor  he  perceived  a  key  in  a  door,  he 
entered  precipitantly,  carefully  taking  the  key  with 
him  and  locking  it  after  him.  At  the  same  in- 
stant, a  voice  cried,  — 

"  Monsieur,  what  are  you  doing  here  ?  Nobody 
can  come  in,  I  am  not  visible." 


256         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

It  was  the  dowager,  who  was  dressing  at  the 
moment  when  the  chevalier,  entered  her  chamber, 
desperate.  Chaudoreille  did  not  answer,  he  heard 
nothing  but  Urbain's  steps. 

"  Monsieur,  I  am  making  my  toilet.** 

"  Make  anything  you  please,**  said  he  at  last, 
"  I  shall  scarcely  worry  myself  about  it.** 

"  Leave  this  room,  monsieur." 

"Me,  leave  the  room?  By  jingo  1  I'll  take 
very  good  care  not  to  do  that.  Do  you  wish  me 
to  go  to  my  death  ?  I'm  pursued  by  a  man  who 
absolutely  wishes  to  fight  with  me.*' 

"  Well,  then,  fight.  Can't  you  defend  your- 
self?" 

"  I  can  only  defend  myself  when  I  am  not  at- 
tacked.*' 

"  What  use  is  your  sword  then,  monsieur  ?  ** 

"  That  does  not  matter  to  you.  Ah,  zounds  ! 
I  hear  him.** 

In  fact,  Urbain  had  discovered  Chaudoreille's 
retreat.  He  knocked  at  the  door  and  ordered  him 
to  open. 

**  Answer  that  there  is  nobody  here,'*  said  Chau- 
doreille to  the  dowager,  "  you  will  save  the  life  of 
the  most  amiable  man  in  Europe.'* 

The  old  woman  answered  on  the  contrary,  — 

"He  is  here,  but  he  has  locked  himself  up 
with  me  and  he  has  taken  the  key." 

"  Oh,  well,  one  can  break  in  the  door,*'  said 
Urbain,  "  if  this  wretch  refuses  to  open  it.** 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      257 

Chaudoreille  looked  round  in  search  of  a  hid- 
ing-place, but  feared  the  dowager  would  betray 
him.  Finally  his  glance  rested  on  the  chimney,  and 
seeing  no  other  means  of  escape,  he  ran  and 
dimbed  into  it  with  the  agility  of  a  squirrel.  At 
that  moment  someone  forced  the  door,  and  Urbain 
entered,  followed  by  some  of  the  village  people. 
They  did  not  see  Chaudoreille,  but  the  dowager 
indicated  the  way  by  which  he  had  fled.  Going 
down  into  the  court  they  perceived  the  chevalier 
on  the  roof,  creeping  along  a  gutter  and  endeavor- 
ing to  reach  the  neighboring  house.  The  way  was 
dangerous,  but  the  fear  of  fighting  seemed  to  have 
bUnded  Chaudoreille  to  all  other  perils.  Already 
his  foot  touched  the  next  roof,  and,  using  Rolande 
to  feel  his  way,  he  turned  his  head  to  see  if  Urbain 
was  behind  him ;  this  movement  made  him  lose 
his  equilibrium,  he  slipped,  then  disappeared. 
They  ran  to  the  place  where  he  had  fallen ;  the 
descendant  of  Delilah  had  fallen  on  some  cabbages, 
but  not  having  loosened  his  hold  of  Rolande,  the 
long  sword  had  passed  through  the  middle  of  his 
body.  Thus  perished  the  prudent  Chaudoreille, 
while  trying  to  avoid  a  combat. 


CHAPTER  XV 

Julia's  Story.     What  Was  Contained  in 
THE  Portfolio 

The  barber  left  Urbain  in  full  pursuit  of  the 
luckless  chevalier  and  putting  his  horse  at  full 
gallop  tore  back  to  the  Chateau  de  Sarcus,  in 
order  that  he  might  immediately  apprise  the  mar- 
quis of  that  which  had  taken  place.  He  arrived 
in  short  order  at  the  chateau  and  hastened  to  pre- 
sent himself  to  Villebelle,  whom  he  informed  of 
the  meeting  of  Urbain  and  Chaudoreille  and  the 
disclosures  that  had  been  made, 

"Then  this  young  man  is  aware  that  I  have 
grossly  deceived  him,  that  I  am  Blanche's  abduc- 
tor and  that  she  is  now  at  the  chateau  ? "  said  the 
marquis.  **  He  is  young  and  ingenuous,  his  love 
for  this  hapless  child  is  pure  and  virtuous,  he 
sought  to  honor  her  in  making  her  his  wife, — 
how  vile  and  dishonorable  must  I  appear  in  his 
eyes ! " 

"  What  does  the  opinion  of  this  beardless  boy 
matter  to  you,  monsieur  le  marquis  ?  The  most 
important  thing  you  have  to  think  of  is  how  to 
prevent  his  coming  in  contact  with  Blanche,  and 
that,  now,  will  be  rather  difficult.     Now  that  he 

»58 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       259 

is  sure  that  she  is  here,  he  will  employ  a  thou- 
sand stratagems  to  introduce  himself  into  the 
chateau  — " 

"  No,  this  boy  shall  not  rob  me  of  the  woman 
whom  I  love." 

"  If  he  comes,  as  I  am  certain  he  will,  to  de- 
mand satisfaction,  it's  a  sure  thing  that  you  can- 
not refuse  to  fight  him,  and  that  will  be  the  best 
means  of  disembarrassing  yourself  of  him.  With 
your  cool  blood  and  your  skill  with  the  sword, 
you  ought  easily  to  be  able  to  vanquish  a  man 
bUnded  by  fury.'* 

"  Wretch  !  do  you  wish  that  I  should  be  bathed 
in  the  blood  of  this  child  ?  No,  I  am  already 
guilty  enough.  But  what  prevents  me  from  leav- 
ing Sarcus,  from  carrying  Blanche  to  a  country 
where  Urbain  cannot  discover  her  ?  Yes,  tonight 
even,  we  will  start.  We  will  go  to  unknown  parts. 
Go  immediately  and  find  Germain.  The  prepara- 
tions for  our  departure  must  be  made  in  the  great- 
est secrecy,  and  Blanche  must  not  know  of  them 
until  the  last  moment ;  at  midnight  we  will  leave 
the  chateau.  By  this  means  I  hope  to  make  all 
traces  of  Blanche  lost  to  Urbain  forever." 

"  That  is  a  very  good  idea,  monseigneur,  but 
Julia — " 

"  I  shall  trouble  myself  no  more  about  her  now, 
besides,  this  step  will  also  relieve  me  from  her 
importunities.  Go,  run,  and  order  everything  for 
tonight." 


26o         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

Touquet  hastened  to  execute  the  marquis*  or- 
ders ;  it  was  already  late,  and  there  remained  only 
a  short  time  to  Villebelle  in  which  to  make  his 
preparations  for  a  voyage  which  he  presumed 
would  be  of  long  duration.  The  more  he  re- 
flected, the  more  he  approved  of  his  plan.  He 
imagined  that  Blanche  would  find,  in  travelling  in 
strange  countries,  distractions  which  would  make 
her  soon  forget  the  persons  whom  she  had  left  in 
France,  and  he  flattered  himself  that  he  would 
soon  see  the  consummation  of  all  his  wishes. 

Eleven  o'clock  struck.  The  night  was  fine; 
everything  was  in  readiness  for  their  start,  some 
fresh  and  lively  horses  were  harnessed  to  a  travel- 
ling carriage.  The  marquis  was  still  in  his  apart- 
ment, occupied  in  finishing  some  letters  to  his 
stewards  and  some  intimate  friends  in  Paris.  Near 
him  was  the  barber,  to  whom  he  gave  his  last  in- 
structions ;  charging  him  in  case  he  should  see 
Urbain  again,  to  advise  that  young  man  to  forget 
a  woman  whom  he  could  never  possess ;  and  to 
enjoy  himself  with  the  large  fortune  which  Ville- 
belle had  placed  at  his  disposal. 

The  barber  listened  quietly  to  the  marquis  ;  his 
eyes  were  fixed  on  the  gold  and  the  bills  of  ex- 
change spread  on  the  desk  by  the  side  of  a  pair  of 
travelling  pistols.  A  few  moments  later  Villebelle 
was  about  to  tell  Marie  to  go  and  call  Blanche, 
when  the  door  of  the  room  opened  softly.  The 
marquis,  surprised  that  anyone  should   dare  to 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK        261 

come  into  his  room  so  late,  raised  his  eyes  and  rec- 
ognized Julia,  wrapped  in  her  black  mantle. 

"  This  woman  again  !  "  exclaimed  Villebelle, 
while  Touquet  turned  and  remained  struck  with 
astonishment  on  perceiving  the  Italian. 

"  Calm  yourself,  seigneur,"  said  Julia,  closing 
the  door  of  the  room,  "  this  visit  will  be  the  last 
that  I  shall  make  you." 

"  How  did  you  come  here  ?  What  do  you  want? 
Speak,  hasten  to  answer  me  unless  you  expect  mc 
to  punish  you  for  your  strange  conduct." 

"  I  fear  nothing,  seigneur,  it  is  very  little  mat- 
ter what  becomes  of  me  after  this.  I  find  you  here 
with  your  confidant,  which  is  just  what  I  wish. 
Deign  to  listen  attentively  to  me.  That  which  I 
am  about  to  tell  you  will,  I  am  sure,  change  all 
your  resolutions,  and  your  departure  will  not  take 
place." 

Julia's  singular  tone,  and  her  unexpected  ap- 
pearance at  so  late  an  hour,  inspired  Villebelle 
with  curiosity  and  a  secret  terror.  He  signed  to 
the  young  Italian  to  speak.  The  latter  seated 
herself  between  the  marquis  and  the  barber,  who 
waited  impatiently  for  her  explanation,  and  after 
looking  attentively  at  them  for  some  time  with  a 
peculiar  expression,  she  at  length  began  her  story. 

"  It  is  first  necessary,  monsieur  le  marquis,  that 
you  should  know  that  I  am  the  daughter  of  a  man 
named  Cesar  Perditor,  who  passed  for  a  sorcerer 
in  the  eyes  of  ignorant  people,  and  whose  reputa- 


262         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

tion  became  such  that  he  was  obliged  to  quit  Paris 
to  protect  himself  from  death,  or,  at  least,  from  a 
perpetual  prison  in  the  dungeons  of  the  Bastile." 

"  Cesar  !  I  often  heard  speak  of  that  famous 
sorcerer,"  said  the  marquis.  "  Did  he  not  hold 
his  conferences  in  a  quarry  near  Gentilly  ? " 

"  Yes,  seigneur ;  and  there  it  was  that  an  old 
man  came  to  consult  him,  an  old  man  whose 
daughter  you  had  abducted,  and  whom  you  had 
wounded  with  your  sword  —  the  unfortunate 
Delmar." 

"Estrelle's  father?" 

"  Exactly,  monseigneur.  Old  Delmar  told  his 
troubles  to  my  father,  and  begged  him  to  give 
him  the  means  to  revenge  himself  upon  you ;  but 
despite  all  his  skill  Cesar  would  have  had  diffi- 
culty in  satisfying  the  old  man  if,  while  receiving 
the  confidences  of  a  great  part  of  the  noblemen 
and  of  the  women  of  fashion,  he  had  not  learned 
where  your  little  house  was  situated,  and  to  what 
neighborhood  you  had  taken  the  young  Estrelle. 
He  told  it  to  the  old  man,  and  the  latter  rescued 
his  daughter  from  your  hands." 

**  What  ?  It  was  her  father  who  took  her  from 
the  shelter  where  I  had  placed  her  ? "  said  the 
marquis  with  surprise,  and  appearing  at  every 
moment  more  interested  in  Julia's  tale.  "And 
what  became  of  her  ?  " 

"  One  moment,  seigneur,  you  will  learn  all  if 
you  will  allow  me  to  continue.     Old  Delmar  had 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       263 

regained  his  daughter,  but  you  had  dishonored 
her,  and  the  adventure  had  caused  too  much  stir 
to  allow  them  to  remain  in  the  city  that  you  lived 
in.  He  possessed  some  fortune ;  he  sold  every- 
thing, realized  his  property,  recompensed  my 
father  for  the  service  he  had  rendered  him,  and 
carried  Estrelle  to  the  depths  of  Lorraine,  and 
there  she  gave  birth  to  her  child." 

"  Good  God !  she  was  a  mother !  can  it  be 
possible  that  Estrelle  made  me  a  father?  Ah, 
Julia,  in  mercy  finish." 

Julia  seemed  to  enjoy  for  some  moments  the 
marquis'  uneasiness,  then  she  resumed  her  story. 

"  It  was  at  this  time  that  my  father  was  obliged 
to  escape  from  Paris  in  order  to  avoid  arrest,  and 
the  report  spread  that  he  had  perished  in  a  dun- 
geon of  the  Bastile  ;  but  he  had  amassed  sufficient 
for  his  subsistence,  and  leaving  his  dangerous  oc- 
cupation, he  had  no  thought  but  to  live  in  peace. 
I  was  then  in  Italy,  my  birthplace.  My  father 
came  to  seek  me,  and  brought  me  to  France,  the 
climate  of  which  pleased  him.  Unable  to  return 
to  Paris,  where  he  would  have  been  recognized, 
my  father  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Nancy; 
there  he  again  saw  old  Delmar  and  his  sad  daugh- 
ter, secretly  bringing  up  a  child  of  whom  she  could 
only  call  herself  the  mother  with  blushes.  Later 
he  became  acquainted  with  a  poor  farmer  who 
had  been  reduced  to  poverty  by  the  misconduct 
of  his  son,  a  wretch  who,  after  committing  a  crime 


264         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

in  the  country  where  he  was  born,  had  fled,  carry- 
ing away  from  his  parents  all  that  they  possessed, 
and  leaving  them  in  the  direst  poverty." 

"  The  history  of  this  man  can  have  no  connec- 
tion with  Estrelle's  child,"  said  the  marquis,  im- 
patiently ;  "  in  pity,  Julia,  finish  what  you  have 
to  say  to  me." 

"  Pardon  me,  monsieur  le  marquis,  that  is  more 
important  than  you  think,  and  it  is  very  interest- 
ing to  your  worthy  confidant,  who  has  already 
recognized  his  father  in  the  old  farmer  of  whom  I 
have  spoken." 

The  barber,  who  had  given  great  attention  to 
Julia's  last  words,  immediately  exclaimed,  — 

"  Oh,  was  that  my  father  ?  I  was  guilty  towards 
him  I  confess ;  love  of  gold  made  me  commit 
many  faults,  but  I  always  had  the  intention  of 
repairing  the  wrong  I  had  done,  and  there  is  still 
time  for  it." 

"  No,  it  is  too  late,"  said  Julia,  casting  at  the 
barber  a  terrible  look. 

"Is  he  dead?" 

Julia  remained  silent.  The  marquis  rose  ab- 
ruptly, exclaiming, — 

**  Well,  then,  cruel  woman,  have  you  amused 
yourself  sufficiently  with  my  torture  ?  When  are 
you  going  to  make  an  end  of  this  ? " 

"  You  are  both  very  impatient,"  said  the  young 
Italian,  smiling  bitterly ;  "  but  there  is  little  more 
to   tell    you.      Old   Touquet   asked   my   father 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK       265 

whether  he  had,  in  his  travels,  heard  his  eon 
spoken  of.  My  father  could  tell  him  nothing 
satisfactory.  Soon  after  we  went  to  dwell  in  a 
village  near  Amiens ;  it  was  there  that  I  lived  up 
to  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  Then  my  father  died ; 
and  I  came  to  Paris,  where  I  went  into  a  shop  as 
a  simple  workwoman.  My  father  had  left  me  no 
property  except  a  manuscript  containing  the  most 
curious  adventures  of  his  life,  and  the  secret  his- 
tory of  the  persons  who  had  consulted  him.  This 
is  how  I  learned,  monsieur  le  marquis,  of  the  ab- 
duction of  poor  Estrelle,  and  it  was  in  examining 
these  notes  of  my  father  that  I  saw  in  what  man- 
ner the  barber  Touquet  had  acted  toward  his 
parents." 

"  Is  that  all  that  you  know  ? "  said  the  marquis. 
**Have  you  learned  nothing  more  in  regard  to  Es- 
trelle and  her  child  ? " 

"  A  short  time  ago  I  did  not  know  anything 
further,  seigneur,  but  chance  has  put  me  in  pos- 
session of  all  that  you  would  know,  thanks  to  a 
visit  which  I  paid  to  the  barber,  for  it  was  at  his 
house  that  I  found  the  clew  to  the  mystery." 

"At  my  house?"  said  Touquet,  looking  at 
Julia  in  surprise. 

"  Yes,  at  your  house,  in  the  closet  hidden  at  the 
back  of  the  alcove  in  Marguerite's  chamber." 

Pale  and  trembling,  the  barber  muttered,  — 

"You  have  been  in  that  closet  —  but  there  was 
nothing  there  ;  no,  I  am  very  certain  of  it." 


266         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

"  You  are  mistaken,  for  in  disturbing,  by  chance,' 
a  chest  which  stood  on  the  floor,  I  found  this  port- 
folio, which  probably  had  been  hidden  by  the  per- 
son whom  you  lodged  there,  who,  not  knowing 
how  to  dispose  of  these  important  papers,  had 
deemed  it  wise  to  put  them  in  this  secret  place 
during  the  time  that  he  stayed  at  your  house." 

The  barber  looked  with  terror  on  the  portfolio 
which  Julia  had  drawn  from  beneath  her  cloak, 
while  the  marquis  exclaimed, — 

"  Do  these  papers  come  from  Blanche's  fether  ?" 

"They  come,  in  fact,  from  the  person  who 
brought  that  young  girl  to  the  barber's  house. 
Seigneur,  read  first  that  one.** 

Julia  gave  a  paper  to  Villebelle,  who  uttered  a 
cry  of  surprise  as  he  read,  — 

"  Certificate  of  the  birth  of  Blanche,  daughter 
of  Estrelle  Delmar.** 

"  O  my  God !  '*  said  the  marquis,  breathing  with 
difficulty,  "  can  it  be  ?  ** 

"  Wait,  seigneur,  do  you  know  Estrelle's  writ- 

ing?" 

"  Yes,  that  is  it,  I  recognize  it." 

"  Read  this  note.*' 

The  marquis  took  the  letter  and  eagerly  read 
it,— 

I  feel  that  I  am  about  to  die,  but,  at  least,  my  father  has 
forgiven  me.  He  had  forbidden  me  to  make  Blanche's  exis- 
tence known  to  her  father,  and,  as  long  as  he  lived,  I  respected 
his  orders  ;  but  he  is  no  more,  and  I  am  about  to  follow  him  to 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      267 

the  tomb.  Villebelle,  Blanche  is  your  daughter,  the  fruit  of  our 
love.  Good-by.  Love  her  more  than  you  have  loved  her 
mother.    I  forgive  you. 

ESTRELLE     DeLMAR. 

"  O  Blanche,  O  my  daughter ! "  exclaimed  the 
marquis,  abandoning  himself  by  turns  to  his  joy 
and  his  remorse,  "  I  am  your  father  and  I  have 
made  you  unhappy." 

"  Finish  this  letter,  seigneur,"  said  Julia, "  there 
is  something  there  which  concerns  your  confidant." 

The  marquis  saw  some  lines  added  by  Estrelle's 
hand  and  read, — 

I  have  no  relations  ;  my  daughter  will  be  presented  to  you 
by  a  worthy  friend  in  whom  I  have  every  confidence,  and  who 
goes  to  Paris  under  a  fictitious  name  to  try  to  obtain  some  in- 
formation about  a  son  who  has  dishonored  him.  I  have  con- 
fided to  him  the  fortune  which  I  have  left  Blanche  ;  my  daugh- 
ter needs  nothing  but  her  father's  friendship,  but  if  he  repulses 
her,  the  old  Touquet  will  take  his  place. 

**  Touquet,"  cried  the  marquis,  looking  at  the 
barber. 

The  latter  appeared  thunderstruck.  He  looked 
at  the  letter,  a  cold  sweat  stood  out  on  his  fore- 
head ;  he  could  not  utter  a  word. 

"  Yes,"  said  Julia, "  yes,  unhappy  wretch,  it  was 
your  father  who  came  to  your  house  with  Blanche, 
whom  he  was  taking  to  the  marquis  ;  he  had  taken 
the  name  of  Moranval,  no  doubt,  that  he  might 
be  more  likely  to  get  news  of  his  son  in  Paris. 
Perhaps  he  even  knew  in  whose  house  he  was  tak- 


268         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

ing  lodgings.  Answer,  wretch,  how  did  you  treat 
that  traveller  ? " 

"  Do  not  question  me,"  said  the  barber,  walk- 
ing wildly  about  the  room, "  I  am  a  monster.  Do 
not  come  near  me  ;  I  have  murdered  my  father !  '* 

**  And  for  ten  years  you  have  deprived  me  of 
my  daughter,"  cried  the  marquis,  starting  from 
Touquet  with  horror.  "  You  were  about  to  make 
me  the  most  guilty  of  men,  your  horrible  coun- 
sels were  thrusting  me  to  a  crime  —  wait,  wretch, 
and  receive  the  price  of  all  your  misdeeds." 

The  marquis  seized  one  of  the  pistols  which 
were  on  the  desk  and  directed  it  towards  Touquet. 
The  shot  sped,  and  Julia  looked  coldly  on,  as  the 
barber  fell  at  her  feet. 

"  That  death  was  too  kind  for  you,"  said  the 
marquis,  "but,  thanks  to  Heaven,  I  have  not 
committed  the  last  crime.  O  my  dear  Blanche, 
you  are  my  daughter ;  that  was  the  cause  of  the 
secret  feeling  which  pled  for  you.  I  will  make 
you  happy,  and  you  shall  forget  my  unworthy 
love ;  henceforth,  it  is  only  a  father  who  presses 
you  in  his  arms." 

The  marquis  left  the  room  followed  by  Julia. 
He  did  not  walk,  he  flew  towards  the  tower  in- 
habited by  Blanche.  As  he  approached,  his  voice, 
calling  Blanche,  woke  the  echoes.  They  reached 
the  door  of  the  room,  which  was  locked  on  the 
inside  ;  the  marquis,  who  had  not  taken  his  keys, 
knocked  and    rcknocked,   calling    Blanche   and 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      269 

begging  her  to  open.  Nobody  answered,  but 
presently  a  sound  reached  the  marquis*  ears,  which 
seemed  to  be  caused  by  the  fall  of  some  object  in 
the  waters  of  the  lake.  Villebelle  experienced  a  sen- 
sation which  he  could  not  define ;  he  ran  and  called 
Germain,  obtained  his  keys  and  entered  Blanche's* 
apartment;  it  was  empty,  and  everything  an- 
nounced that  the  young  girl  had  not  gone  to  bed  ; 
but  one  of  the  windows  looking  on  the  lake  was 
open.  Led  by  a  secret  presentiment,  the  marquis 
went  on  to  the  balcony.  His  eyes  searched  the 
lake,  and  he  called  again,  — 

"  Blanche,  my  daughter." 

Nobody  answered,  but  an  object  showed  at  in- 
tervals on  the  surface  of  the  lake,  and  seemed  to 
move. 

"It  is  she,"  cried  Villebelle,  and  immediately 
jumped  into  the  lake.  It  was  indeed  the  unfortu- 
nate Blanche,  who,  since  the  scene  of  the  preced- 
ing night,  expecting  at  every  moment  some  new 
attempt  on  the  part  of  the  marquis,  had  not  tasted 
a  moment's  rest.  She  had  not  gone  to  bed,  fear- 
ing to  be  surprised  in  her  sleep,  and  watched 
trembling,  believing  at  the  slightest  noise,  that  her 
abductor  was  about  to  appear.  Blanche  had  de- 
cided to  die  rather  than  cease  to  be  worthy  of 
Urbaln.  On  hearing  hasty  steps  approaching  her 
room,  and  recognizing  Villebelle's  voice  calling 
her  loudly,  a  most  violent  terror  had  seized  her ; 
and  not  doubting  but  that  he  had  come  to  ac- 


270         THE  BARBER  OF  PARIS 

complish  his  infamous  purpose,  she  had  thrown 
herself  into  the  lake,  pronouncing  Urbain's  name. 

The  marquis  swam  towards  the  object  which 
he  perceived  in  the  water,  but  another  person 
who  had  been  in  the  park,  had  also  thrown  him- 
self into  the  lake.  It  was  Urbain,  who,  certain 
that  his  sweetheart  was  in  the  chateau,  had  profited 
by  the  night  to  introduce  himself  into  the  gar- 
dens. The  young  bachelor  had  heard  Blanche's 
sweet  voice  uttering  his  name,  then  a  sudden 
sound  caused  him  to  look  towards  the  lake  and 
he  had  flown  to  the  help  of  the  unfortunate  girl, 
with  whom  he  had  at  length  reached  the  brink; 
where  presently  he  was  joined  by  the  marquis, 
Julia,  and  the  people  of  the  chateau,  attracted  by 
their  master's  shouts.  Blanche  was  stretched  on 
the  grass,  while  Urbain  on  his  knees  beside  her 
called  her  loudly,  when  the  marquis  came  running 
in  the  greatest  despair  and  threw  himself  on  the 
ground,  supplicating  Heaven  to  give  him  back 
his  daughter. 

"  His  daughter  ? "  cried  all  those  around  him. 

"  Yes,"  said  Villebelle,  gazing  on  Blanche's 
discolored  features  with  despair,  "  yes,  it  is  my 
daughter,  my  child,  whom  I  have  made  unhappy, 
whose  death  I  have  caused.  Ah,  I  would  have 
given  all  my  fortune  to  kiss  Estrelle's  daughter, 
to  hear  her  call  me  father,  and  by  my  passions, 
my  vices,  I  am  deprived  of  my  greatest  treasure. 
Oh,  my  dear  Blanche,  return  to  life ;  before  death 


CHARLES  PAUL  DE  KOCK      271 

closes  your  mouth,  tell  me,  at  least,  that  you  will 
forgive  me.  But  no,  I  shall  not  have  even  that  last 
consolation;  she  is  dead  without  having  once 
called  me  father." 

The  marquis  threw  himself  on  the  body  of  his 
daughter,  which  Urbain  watered  with  his  tears  ;  he 
took  Blanche's  hands  and  held  them  against  his 
heart,  seeking  to  rewarm  them,  to  reanimate  them, 
but  all  efforts  were  vain.  Blanche  could  no  longer 
hear  her  father's  cries,  nor  the  sobs  of  her  lover. 


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